Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever

Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian of all time as he claimed his first gold medal of the 2012 Games with the powerful stroke of his outstretched arm, grasping a glory unknown to any other competitor in the world.

The swimmer secured his 19th medal with victory in the men's 4x200mn relay, smashing the 48-year record of Russian gymnast Larissa Latyina and earning himself a place in history.

After taking a disappointing second place medal earlier in the day, he now has 15 golds, two silver and two bronze medals over three Olympics.

Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games

  Team members Michael Phelps, left, and Conor Dwyer, right, celebrate with their gold medals and US flags after winning gold in the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final.

 Great Britain's Helen Glover (left) and Heather Stanning show off their gold medals after winning the women's pair final at Eton Dorney

It all gets a bit too much for Glover as God Save the Queen is played during the medal ceremony. The rowers were paired just three years ago, but their hard work and dedication has been rewarded with gold

 Stanning gives the camera a close-up of her gold medal

Sarah Tait and Kate Hornsey of Australia (left) took the silver medal, with Rebecca Scown and Juliette Haigh of New Zealand (right) winning bronze

Glover and Stanning won by a length from Australia in silver and New Zealand in bronze.

Winning an Olympic gold should be a moment of great joy for any athlete at London 2012.

But for Chinese diver Wu Minxia securing her golden hat-trick on Sunday at the Aquatic Centre in east London was followed by shock and sadness.


Straight after a triumph in the women's Synchronised 3m Springboard that made her a legend in her sport, the 26-year-old's family decided it was the right time to tell her a devastating family secret.

Tinged with sadness: Minxia Wu of China celebrates her gold medal in women's Synchronised 3m Springboard. She was then told the devastating secret

They admitted to their daughter that her grandparents died - over a year ago. And instead of telling her, they kept it back.


Wu's family also revealed that her mother had been battling breast cancer for several years, something Wu had no idea about.

Wu Minxia of China, left, was told her mother had been battling breast cancer for several years, something she had no idea about

China's Wu Minxia and He Zi dive during the springboard diving event at the London 2012 Olympic Games