EXPERT EYES – DAY 4: Michael Phelps, the greatest ever

Second gold for Katie Ledecky, third for Katinka Hosszu

The three individual finals of the fourth day they had a common denominator: they were won by extraordinary champions - Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Katinka Hosszú - with already winners of other gold medals in these Olympics.

The biggest challenge was in the men's 200 butterfly. Michael Phelps had gnawing for four years because of the defeat suffered in London in 2012 at the hands of South African Chad Le Clos. This was one of the reasons that convinced him to come back after closing with competitions at the end of London 2012. Yesterday evening Phelps, more perky than ever, left no doubt about the final outcome of the race. Le Clos appeared immediately in trouble and never managed to join the fight for the medals. So while Michael Phelps was heading coveted victory in 1: 53.36, Le Clos had to resign himself to fourth in 1: 54.06. Before him also the nineteen-year old Japanese Masato Sakai, in 1: 53.40, just 4 hundredth of a second behind Phelps, and the Hungarian Tamas Kenderesi – whose qualities were already seen at the European Championships in May in London; with 1: 53.62, the Magyar replaced on the podium his glorious countryman Laszlo Cseh, who finished seventh, with 1: 56.24. Both Sakai and Kenderesi set a personal record. Note that the Japanese here in Rio are doing very well with a team full of attractive young people, some of which will certainly also be protagonists in Tokyo in 2020.

In the women's 200 meters freestyle the first two places were given for granted to Katie Ledecky and Sarah Sjostrom. We only wondered who of the two would have preceded the other. In the pool the extraordinary Katie

Ledecky swept all doubt and with great authority won his second gold medal in 1: 53.73, with Sarah Sjostrom, second in 1: 54.08.

For the bronze medal was predicted Federica Pellegrini, which on June 26 had achieved the third fastest time of 2016 with 1: 54.55 (the best two belonged to Sjostrom with 1: 54.34 and Ledecký with 1: 54.43). Now, while Ledecký won setting her personal best and Sjostrom made his fastest time of 2016, Pellegrini got worse, in 1: 55.18, and was also preceded by the Australian Emma McKeon, who also set a personal best with 1: 54.92.

In the women's 200 meters individual medley, we have witnessed a duel between Katinka Hosszu and Siobhan Marie O'Connor but the outcome was predictable. The British, in constant progress, led the first leg in butterfly; the Hungarian advanced in backstroke, held on in breaststroke and freestyle, and won in 2: 06:58, Olympic record, third personal gold in Rio (after those in the 400 medley and 100 backstroke). Silver for O'Connor in 2: 06.88, personal best. Bronze for Maya Dirado in 2: 08.79;the American was also on the podium in the 400 individual medley. Last, with 2: 13.56, the champion of London 2012, the Chinese Ye Shiwen (2: 07:57 to Londra'12).

Las the night the curtains were close on another feat of Michael Phelps who anchored to gold the USA 4x200 freestyle relay.

WATER POLO

Winning start for USA, Australia, Italy and Hungary

The first day of the preliminary round offered no real surprises.

The United States, who won gold four years ago in London and also in the World League Super Final in June, are set to confirm themselves as the major powerhouse Opposed to Spain, silver medallist in London, the American side had no problem in winning the match on a heavy score, 11-4.

The gap was even wider between Australia - the winner of the first Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo, in 2000, in Sydney- and Russia: 14 – 4 the final score.

Italy had also a comfortable start against Brazil, bringing home a victory on 9 – 3.

The tightest game was that between Hungary and China. The Chinese confirmed their recent progress and managed to be defeat by only a 2-goal difference, 13 - 11.

DIVING

China on a winning streak, already 3 gold in Rio

Ruolin Chen swung away with her fifth Olympic gold medal when she partnered Huixia Liu to victory in the women’s synchronised 10m last night, her third triumph in the event since she began her Olympic career at 14 at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Chen thus matched team-mate Minxia Wu, who claimed her fifth Olympic gold two days earlier when she won the 3m synchro with Shi Tingmao, and it took China’s diving title tally in Rio to three out of three in three days, the men’s synchronised 10m having also gone their way. The Chinese pair won by almost 10 points from Malaysia’s Jun Hoong Cheong and Pandelela Rinong Pamg.

Chen and Liu, world champions in 2013 and 2015, compiled 354.00 points for gold from their five dives, with Cheong and Pamg claiming silver for Malaysia with 344.34 and Benfeito and Filion bronze for Canada with 336.18.