Um, Michael Phelps Just Broke a 2,168-Year-Old Record
Michael Phelps came away with his 13th individual gold medal (and 22nd gold overall, plus 26th medal total, casual) last night at the 200-meter individual medley. He became the first swimmer to win gold in the same event at four consecutive Olympics, but that wasn't the only record he broke. According to the New York Times, he also possesses the most individual gold medals EVER–like, breaking a record dating back all the way to 152 B.C.
Erm, what?
That's over 2,000 years ago. They keep records that far back?
Mindboggling, we know. Apparently, a runner named Leonidas at the age of 36 won 12 individual gold medals in races of 200 and 400 meters, and a shield-carrying (!!!) race. PS–the Olympics officially dates back to 776 B.C. but the Games as we know them now started in 1896.
"Right now I don't know how to wrap my head around that," Phelps said, on his win, "I don't know what to say. It's been a hell of a career."
Um, yeah.
