Michael Phelps made all the difference as he won the 19th Olympic gold medal of his astonishing career on Sunday and helped the US men's team to victory in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay.

The 31-year-old, raising a roar from the crowd on his first competitive appearance at his fifth Games after sitting out the heats, now has an unprecedented 23 medals with two silvers and two bronzes filling out his tally. Photo: EPA/Esteban Biba