Japan takes bronze in men's 4x200 freestyle relay; Phelps gets 21st Olympic gold
(Mainichi Japan)
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Japan won the bronze medal in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 9, Day 5 of the games. The United States won the gold while Great Britain picked up the silver medal.
The Japanese team of Kosuke Hagino, Naito Ehara, Yuki Kobori, and Takeshi Matsuda finished with a time of 7:03.50. It was the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics for Japan to win a medal in the event.
Japan got off to a good start, with Hagino coming in second, and Ehara and Kobori also followed closely behind the U.S. swimmers. In the final leg, Matsuda managed to hold off Australia to take third-place.
The United States powered to victory with a team time of 7:00.66. The victory gave Michael Phelps his 21st Olympic gold medal. Britain finished with a time of 7:03.13.
