Phelps wins another gold in 200 IM


— Michael Phelps won his fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics and 22nd overall with a victory in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night.

Kosuke Hagino of Japan takes the silver and Wang Shun of China earns the bronze. Phelps rival Ryan Lochte did not medal.

America has its latest backstroke great.

Ryan Murphy completed a sweep of the men’s backstroke events, taking gold in the 200 meters Thursday night at the Rio Olympics.

Murphy also won the 100 back, becoming the third American man in the last five Olympics to take both races. Aaron Peirsol pulled off the sweep at Athens in 2004 and Lenny Krayzelburg claimed both golds at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The 21-year-old Murphy touched in 1 minute, 53.62 seconds. Australia’s Mitch Larkin grabbed the silver in 1:53.96, just ahead of Russia’s Evgeny Rylov with the bronze in 1:53.97.

The United States has not lost a men’s backstroke final at the Olympics since 1992.