Reeling from his shock loss in the 200 meter butterfly, Michael Phelps, running the final leg, was determined to ensure there would be no mistakes in the 4x200 freestyle relay. As is expected, every time the great man enters the pool, there wasn't.
By winning the relay, with a lot of help from his team-mates, the big American entered the record books yet again, winning his 19th medal, and a staggering 15th gold. Nobody's done better in the Olympics, and it is hard to imagine anyone matching the 27-year-old's feat in the near future, if ever.
"I thanked those guys (in the huddle) for helping get to this moment," an emotional Phelps said.
"I told those guys I wanted a big lead in the last leg and they gave it to me.
"I just wanted to hold on; I just wanted to thank them for allowing me to have this moment."
"I've put my mind to doing something that nobody had ever done before. "This has been an amazing ride."
Phelps was coming off a disappointing 200 butterfly loss, a race he just doesn't lose, where he mistimed his finish, something the American never does, allowing South African Chad le Clos to take the race.
"Obviously I would have liked to have a better outcome in the 200 fly," Phelps said. "I was on the receiving end of getting touched out.
"Chad swam a good race. I've gotten to know him a little over the last year. He's a hard worker, he's a tough competitor and he's a racer.
"I would have liked to have won my last race (in the 200 butterfly), but it wasn't a terrible time. It was decent."
Phelps is hugely respected among his peers, and Le Clos admitted there was no one better. "This is a dream of mine, I have always said Michael Phelps was my hero," a visibly elated South African said.
"I wanted to be in the final for my main event, I achieved that goal and my coach said you have done all you have to do.
"But I just remember sitting in the call room thinking that Michael Phelps has never lost this race for 10 years in international meets.
"I remember turning in the last 50 and just looking at him underwater and realising this is my hero, it's crazy.
"I can't describe how I felt. In the last 25 metres, I can't explain what came over me.'
"I'll have to try and defend my title in four years time, but to beat Michael Phelps is something I have wanted my whole life, it is exactly what I have been dreaming off since I was 12."
