Michael Phelps closed out his Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the early hours of this morning with a result not many had anticipated.
Joseph Schooling of Singapore, a rising junior and all-American swimmer at Texas, shocked the world as he clinched the gold medal of the 100m butterfly ahead of the most decorated Olympian of all time.
The 21-year-old's victory was faster than any of Phelps' times in the events over the past four Olympic Games.
"As a kid I wanted to be like him," Schooling said afterwards, "It’s crazy to think of what happens in eight years... A lot of this is because of Michael. He’s the reason I wanted to be a better swimmer."
How Joseph Schooling did it! #Rio2016 #JosephSchooling #Singapore #100mbutterfly #SingaporeGold pic.twitter.com/tdUnleiauj
— IZ The One (@SooZarr) August 13, 2016
Moreover, Phelps wasn't alone in collecting his silver medal, with South Africa's Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary claiming a second position in an unprecedented three-way tie for a silver.
Just the three silvers and a gold medal last night in the final of the 100m butterfly. Image: Michael Sohn / AP/Press Association Images
Elsewhere, the curtain closed on Ireland's Chloe Magee last night as she was beaten by German Karin Schnaase.
The Donegal native was beaten 21-14, 21-19 to make it a second consecutive defeat for the 27-year-old and ended her Olympic dream.
Ireland's hockey team were also eliminated last night from the men's competition after a narrow defeat to Argentina.
