LOOK: Michael Phelps received his final gold medal and the whole world cried
Michael Phelps finished his career in the most Phelps way possible — by winning a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
About 45 minutes later, the 31-year-old took the Olympic podium for the final time and listened to “The Star-Spangled Banner” with his gold medal draped around his neck.
Phelps fought back tears but eventually gave in, which created a chain reaction across the world. Here come the waterworks …
Did anybody else get super emotional when phelps was crying Bc same
— Court (@courttwelch) August 14, 2016
Just can’t… Seeing Phelps at the 22 gold, 28 total still crying on the podium is everything and amazing and i just want to cry with him 🙌
— Franci Castelli (@framari) August 14, 2016
Sitting on my couch, eating Taco Bell, crying that Michael Phelps is retiring. Not sure why he’s doin this to us. Need another taco.
— Elizabeth Howard (@eliz_howard) August 14, 2016
I’ve literally been crying for the past hour bc Michael Phelps
— shannon misses 5sos (@adidastyles28) August 14, 2016
Many, including a handful of Phelps’ teammates, think they’ll see him in the pool once again — possibly at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But if this was Phelps’ final goodbye, it was certainly a tearful one.
