Phelps captures 19th career gold in men's freestyle relay

Michael Phelps is a gold medalist in a fourth Olympic Games.

The most decorated swimmer in history won his 19th career gold - and his 23rd medal overall - in Sunday night's 4x100m freestyle relay at Rio 2016.

Swimming in the second leg, Phelps provided the Americans a lead they would not relinquish, overtaking France with the fastest split among racers in the first 300 meters.

Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held, and Nathan Adrian swam the first, third, and anchor legs, respectively, for the United States, which retained its title from London.

France and Australia finished second and third.

Phelps can win as many as five more medals, but that will depend on his usage in relay events. He's schedule to race in the 100m and 200m butterfly heats this week, along with the men's 200m individual medley.

Previously, Phelps won Olympic gold medals in Athens, Beijing, and London. As a 15-year-old in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he finished fifth in the 200m butterfly.