Phelps 19th Olympic medal as the United States took 4x200m freestyle relay gold. The 27-year-old, who swam the anchor leg as the Americans won in a time of six minutes 59.70 seconds, now has 15 golds to his name.

Phelps, 27, won six golds and two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Games, and then brought home a spectacular eight golds from Beijing.

He has suffered a testing game in London, slumping out of the medals in the 400m individual medley and then having to settle for silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

But Phelps’ record 19th medal was never in doubt in Tuesday’s relay as he took over the final leg with a healthy lead and powered home to leave France trailing in silver and China with bronze.

Phelps moved into position for the history-making moment earlier Tuesday night with his second-place finish in the 200-meter butterfly, giving him 18 Olympic podiums.

He looked poised to take gold in the race, charging out early and leading after all three of the turns, before appearing to labor in the final 25 meters. That allowed South Africa’s Chad le Clos to close the gap, with the two going stroke-for-stoke in the last 10 meters.

Le Clos stretched at the end; out-touching Phelps for gold, in 1:52.96 against Phelps’s 1:53.01. Phelps looked at the video board and said some words to him, appearing disappointed with what was ultimately a wrist-length from gold. Phelps had reason to smile less than an hour later.