RIO DE JANEIRO -- As he walked into an Olympic pool venue for the final time on Saturday night, Michael Phelps couldnt help but feel the emotion begin to settle over him. He had known this day had been coming for years. Ever since he decided to unretire for one last Olympics, he knew it would all come to an end late on Aug. 13.He expected there would be emotions. How could there not? This was nothing like four years earlier in London, where he left the sport of swimming kicking and screaming and eager to put lane lines and kickboards in his rearview mirror as quickly as he could. This time, he had embraced the journey, became a team leader and rediscovered the love for the water he had as a little boy. So of course there would be tears, even before his final race began.Walking down the warm-up pool deck, I started getting choked up thinking this is my last this, this is my last that, Phelps said. It was definitely more emotion than in 2012, and I think thats a good thing.He wasnt alone. Bob Bowman had coached Phelps for 20 years. He watched Phelps grow from an eager 11-year-old into a hard-headed, complicated competitor into a grown father and leader. He had once worried about who Phelps was hanging out with and what they might be up to. At one point, the relationship between Bowman and Phelps had devolved into ferocious, profanity-laced arguments, with both of them swearing they would never talk to the other again, only to somehow return.And yet, here at the end, for the past 21 months, their bond had become everything it always should have been. They respected one another. Vacationed together. Laughed. Worked hard but had fun doing so. So of course, when Phelps began his final warm-up swim before the mens 4x100 meter medley relay final, Bowman had to excuse himself.?I just walked off like I was going to the bathroom, Bowman said. I spent the whole day thinking about sentimental stuff. The last time I will see him swim freestyle. The last 200 IM. The last time Im going to watch him do this 25 or that 25. I got emotional. I dont think he even knew.By the time Phelps stepped onto the competition deck, the tears were in check for the time being. He had just one thought: Get the lead. The United States had never lost the mens medley relay, and they werent going to start now. Not in the last swim of Michael Phelps career. His motivational speech to his teammates was simple but effective.He said, I dont have anything to say, but lets just go out there and kill it, Ryan Murphy said. It wasnt much, but that was enough for me to get hyped.Murphy began the American charge by setting a world-record time in the 100 backstroke during the first leg of the relay. But thanks to a monster breaststroke by Great Britains Adam Peaty, Phelps entered the water on the third leg with the Americans trailing by .61 seconds. In a way, this was exactly how it was supposed to be -- the United States needing Michael Phelps to help them to victory.One hundred meters and a little more than 50 seconds later, Phelps and his strong butterfly stroke handed teammate Nathan Adrian a .41-second lead that the Americans did not lose. And just like that, the greatest career in Olympic history came to an end.This was the cherry on top that I wanted, Phelps said after the race. I couldnt be any happier with the end of my career.With that last race of the aquatics schedule in Rio, Phelps won his 28th career Olympic medal and his 23rd gold. Last week, he regained the 200 butterfly crown he had lost four years ago that had meant so much to him. He again beat teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200 individual medley for the fourth straight Olympics. And in the last individual event of his career, he took home silver in the 100 butterfly behind 21-year-old Joseph Schooling, who grew up in Singapore idolizing Phelps; it reminded the world just how hard greatness can be to master.Phelps leaves Rio with five gold medals and one silver, the fourth straight Olympics where Phelps is likely to win more medals than any other Olympian.When the race finally was over, Phelps raised his arms high above his head to acknowledge the cheering crowd. The emotions returned while he waited for the medal ceremony, but it happened behind closed doors, where no one could see it. Teammate Cody Miller became dizzy and light-headed, postponing the medal ceremony by some 25 minutes. By the time Phelps re-emerged, he put himself back together.You could see the tears in his eyes as we were walking to the medal ceremony, Murphy said. It got tampered down with how much time we had to wait, but he was super emotional. It was a great way to cap off an incredible career.For Phelps, these Olympics have proved to be different than any other. He walked in his first Opening Ceremony after being elected the U.S. flag-bearer by his teammates. He served as one of the team captains -- another first -- and help lead the Americans to 33 total swimming medals, the most since 1984.And, for the first time in his life, it wasnt all about winning. It was the process of getting there. Which is why those close to Phelps are optimistic that the next chapter of his life will be far brighter than it might have once looked. For years, Phelps defined himself as nothing more than a swimmer. In 2008, when a University of Michigan athletics administrator asked him what he planned to do if he won eight gold medals in Beijing, he shrugged his shoulders. Retirement after London in 2012 was followed by a reality television show, playing golf and a lack of direction.This time, Phelps insists its different. He will no longer have swimming to keep his life within the boundaries -- to bring him happiness, contentment, sobriety. But he doesnt need it. He finally knows who he is beyond a swimmer. He no longer needs gold medals to define himself as a successful and productive human being. He has a fiancée who has been there through the good times and bad and loves him for the man, not the medals. He has a son who will blindingly care about him and has cried in recent days during FaceTime chats because he misses Dad.This time, Rio was closure.He knows where hes going, Bowman said. There is a baby and a house and a wife. He can see the next chapter of his life. And he cant wait. I dont worry about him anymore. Hes on a great path, and I think thats the biggest difference.The end of Phelps competitive career is anything but the end of his story. In many ways, it is only the beginning.The things Ive gone through in my life -- this is how Im supposed to be today, Phelps said. I wouldnt change anything that got me here. I can honestly say this is the best place Ive ever been in my life. Cheap NCAA Jerseys China . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Wholesale College Jerseys . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. http://www.cheapncaajerseysbywholesale.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Stitched NCAA Jerseys . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. TAMPA, Fla. -- Mike Smith is headed back to Atlanta, this time as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The ex-Falcons coach is excited about the trip, though not because hes facing his old team for the first time since being fired two seasons ago.The winningest coach in franchise history when he was let go in December 2014, Smith spent a year away from the NFL before joining one of his former Atlanta assistants, Dirk Koetter, in trying to transform the Bucs into playoff contenders.Koetter, in his first season as coach of the Bucs, and Smith, 66-46 in seven seasons with the Falcons, both reject the notion that returning to the Georgia Dome on Sunday will be special for any other reason than its the regular-season opener.The duo said so much has changed since they left that their familiarity with players remaining on the roster from the Smith regime is only a minimal advantage.Obviously for me and Mike, were both two years removed, so theres less and less guys that theyve kept, Koetter, who spent three seasons as Smiths offensive coordinator in Atlanta before moving into the same role with the Bucs in 2015, which means this weekend actually will be the third time hes gone against the Falcons since his departure.Theres some guys that are the same, but I think my emotional time with that is passed, Koetter added. We have to look at this as a football team. This is a divisional game on the road to open the season. ... Im just worried about what our team does.Smith led the Falcons to two NFC South titles and four playoff berths, including an appearance in the 2012 NFC championship game. He fell out of favor over his last two seasons in Atlanta, going 4-12 in 2013 and 6-10 in 2014.The 57-year-old jumped at the opportunity to join Koetter, who reached out to his old boss after Tampa Bay promoted him from offensive coordinator to first-time NFL head coach when Lovie Smith was fired after last season.The former coach sees a parallel in the challenge he faced in Atlanta, which drafted quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008, and the situation Koetter inherited with the Bucs, who have second-year quarterback Jameis Winston.This is a quarterback-driven league. Theres no doubt about it. And I think Jameis is an outstanding quarterback, Smith said Thursday. Hes got some great traits on the field, but hes also a great leader.And when you have that, I think it puts you a step ahead of the teams in the league. Werre all trying to have the best possible football team, and I think it starts with the quarterback position.dddddddddddd So I do see some similarities, definitely.Smith joked that hes had a lot of sleepless nights lately, preparing to face a Falcons offense led by Ryan, receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.Theyre three really outstanding football players, and if they get going, they can make it be a long day for you. Weve had an opportunity to put in our preparation and now we have an opportunity to go in and play and see how we execute, said Smith, adding that the transition from head coach to defensive coordinator hasnt been as difficult as some might expect.I sleep better at night, thats the first thing. Its been enjoyable, Smith said. Its been refreshing to be a little bit more hands-on in a smaller group that youre dealing with. These guys have been great.Not only the players, but the coaches and our support staff. Its been fun to get back to just worry about Xs and Os and not having to worry about things outside of that.Like Smith and Koetter, the Falcons are playing down the significance of opening the season against familiar faces.Once youre out there playing -- and Im sure they would say the same thing -- youre competing. Its just like any other week, Ryan said. I know theyll be well coached. Thats probably the biggest thing going into it. I know theyll be well prepared on both sides of the ball.Coach Dan Quinn and defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux agreed that when the game begins, all that matters is how well the teams play.You always face former coaches and former teammates, week in and week out. Its the way the league is. Nobody ever really stays on the same team, Babineaux said.Im blessed to be here for 12 years now. But it really doesnt happen anymore these days, the tackle added. Ive got a lot of regard for Dirk and Smitty and what they did in the past here. I think theyre going to have a successful program over there.But Sunday is about the Atlanta Falcons. Theres a lot of new guys in this locker room who werent even here when they were here. So its really no rivalry. 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