Good as Gold: Phelps Breaks Medal Record

Updated (4:44 p.m.)—With a gold medal for the United States in Tuesday evening's 4x200-meter freestyle relay, Rodgers Forge native Michael Phelps is now the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time.

Phelps swam the anchor leg of the relay. France—which upset the U.S. in the 100-meter relay—took silver, while China took the bronze, The Huffington Post reports.

The win is Phelps' 15th career gold medal, and 19th medal overall, overtaking Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina's record for most career Olympic medals. With two events left this week—the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter indivualized medley—Phelps has a chance to add to his total.

Earlier in the evening, Phelps took silver in the 200-meter butterfly.

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Golden glory eluded Michael Phelps, but the Rodgers Forge native still made history in London on Tuesday.

Phelps lost his signature event, the 200-meter butterfly, to South African Chad le Clos. Phelps was edged out in the final three meters by just five-hundredths of a second, as The Huffington Post reports.

Bronze went to Japanese swimmer Takeshi Matsuda.

Phelps could have become the first male swimmer to win gold in the same event in three consecutive Olympics.

Phelps' silver medal in the event is his second for London and 18th overall, tying the record for most medals, set by Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina.

Phelps has three chances to break the record, in tonight's 4x200-meter freestyle relay and later this week in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individualized medley. NBC's Olympics site has the detailed schedule and a live stream.

Allison Schmitt, also from the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, took home gold in the 200-meter freestyle on Tuesday, her third medal.