Golden Age: Michael Phelps Adds To His Record Total As Team USA Dominates

2012 Olympics, Men's 100m Fly Results: Michael Phelps Wins Final Individual Event

Michael Phelps closed out his individual campaign at the London 2012 Olympics in the best way possible on Friday, capturing the 100-meter butterfly title in his final individual swim. It was his 17th gold medal, which just piles on to what was already a nearly untouchable record. The 100-meter fly is also the second event that Phelps has won in three consecutive Olympics.

Phelps was understandably thrilled to close out his individual swimming career in style with a victory. "I'm just happy that the last one was a win," said Phelps. "That's all I really wanted coming into the night."

The all-time greatest Olympic champion will take to the water one final time in the 4x100 medley relay, where the Americans are expected to win and capture Phelps' 18th career gold medal to close out his competitive swimming career.

Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic, the silver medalist in the event in 2008, finished fourth in what was likely his final race as well. He's a world class swimmer in his own right, but he summed up the truly spectacular and incomparable nature of Phelps' career in a perfectly succinct manner.

"He's the king of the Olympics Games," said Cavic. "I cannot be compared to Michael Phelps. I'm a one-trick pony."

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic swimming, follow the 2012 Olympic swimming section.

Olympics 2012, Women's 200m Backstroke: Missy Franklin Sets World Record In Victory

Missy Franklin is 17-years-old. She looks like an adult, acts more composed than any adult at the Olympics and competes at the highest level, which is why she looked nothing like a teenager in her 200-meter backstroke victory, both during her swim and in the immediate aftermath.

As usual, Franklin was humble after yet another spectacular performance. "I can't believe what just happened," said Franklin. "In that last 25, I knew I was giving it everything I had because I couldn't feel my arms and legs and I was just trying to get my hand to the wall as fast I could ... I could never dream for it to happen like that."

Franklin set the world record in a comfortable full body length win over Anastasia Zueva, as well as fellow American Elizabeth Beisel. The previous world record was set by Kirsty Coventry in 2009, which she set while wearing the now banned ultra-fast bodysuit.

This was Franklin's last individual swim of the games, but she has a chance at one more medal, in the women's 4x100 medley relay.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic swimming, follow the 2012 Olympic swimming section.

2012 Olympics, Women's 800m Freestyle Results: Katie Ledecky Earns Stunning Gold

A couple of the biggest stars in American swimming captured the spotlight at the London 2012 Olympics on Friday, as both Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps captured gold medals in impressive fashion. But perhaps the most impressive performance of them all came from 15-year-old Katie Ledecky.

Ledecky, who is the youngest member of the USA swimming team, was considered a slight underdog to make the Olympic team at U.S. trials. Not only did she make the team, but she easily put away the field in the women's 800-meter freestyle, defeating Mireia Belmonte Garcia by over four seconds, as well as defending champion and home crowd favorite Rebecca Adlington by nearly six seconds.

For the entire race, Ledecky swam at world record pace, coming up just short of Adlington's record in the final meters. Ledecky got to watch Franklin and Phelps win their races before she got into the water, and she claimed that they gave her the motivation to be her best on Friday.

"Michael's and Missy's races really got me pumped,'' Ledecky said. "I really wanted to see what i could do to represent the U.S.''

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic swimming, follow the 2012 Olympic swimming section.

Florent Manaudou Wins Men's 50m Free, American Cullen Jones Grabs Silver

In swimming's fastest event, France's Florent Manaudou won gold in the men's 50m free. American Cullen Jones picked up the silver.

15-Year-Old American Katie Ledecky Wins Women's 800m Freestyle Final

After a week of near-misses, Great Britain finally looked like it would get a gold medal swim from Rebecca Adlington. Instead, Katie Ledecky dominated, cruising to victory in the women's 800m freestyle on Friday.

Ledecky broke fast and held her lead throughout the race, with Adlington second for much of it, but the home country favorite faded in the last 150 meters, ending up with bronze behind Spain's Miriea Belmonte Garcia.

Ledecky, who turned 15 in March, was on world record pace throughout the race and never even remotely challenged, but fell off at the last, ending up about a half-second behind Adlington's mark.

Preserving that record may be cold comfort for her. Ledecky's surprise victory is sort of a one-woman youth movement, and makes her the youngest gold medalist in the event. She promises to be one of the most celebrated medalists of these games.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic swimming, follow the 2012 Olympic swimming section.

Michael Phelps Wins 100m Butterfly For 17th Career Gold Medal

Michael Phelps ended his individual career on a high note Friday in London, winning the 100m butterfly. It's his 17th Olympic gold medal, and his 21st medal overall.

Missy Franklin Wins Women's 200m Backstroke Final, Sets World Record

Missy Franklin won the women's 200m backstroke on Friday, adding to the U.S.'s tally of medals in swimming at the 2012 Olympics.

Olympics 2012 Schedule: Michael Phelps Back In Action Friday

There are only two days remaining of pool swimming events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. On Friday, there will be four more gold medal races, including the 100m butterfly, where Michael Phelps will hope to add a 21st gold to his overflowing trophy case.

Americans will be competing in all four of the gold medal finals, including Missy Franklin, who will try to outpace the rest of the field in the women's 200m backstroke.

The races will be tape-delayed on NBC in prime time, but the four gold medal events will all take place in the afternoon here in the United States and you can stream them all live at NBCOlympics.com.

Below is the full schedule of gold medal events for Friday. All times listed are Eastern:

2:30 p.m. - Women's 200m Backstroke
2:38 p.m. - Men's 100m Butterfly
2:45 p.m. - Women's 800m Freestyle
3:09 p.m. - Men's 50m Freestyle

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

Becoming Michael Phelps: 7 Legendary Races By 'The Greatest Olympian'

Michael Phelps has become the greatest Olympian ever with a series of memorable races over four Olympics. Here are his seven most important.

London 2012 Olympics Swimming: TV Coverage, Event Schedule For Friday

Swimming is wrapping up in the 2012 Summer Olympics, but Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin and Cullen Jones will all be in the pool chasing gold on Friday.