In 2004 and 2008, the Olympic gold medal in the men's 400-meter individual medley went to Michael Phelps.
Something strange happened in 2012, however, as Phelps finished fourth in the event. It was the first time since he was 15 and swimming in just a single event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics that he failed to medal in an event in which he competed. It was the only event in 2012 in which he competed and failed to medal.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the 400IM gold medal will be up for grabs, with the hope that it can return to Maryland. It just won't be Phelps who captures the gold.
For the first time in his career, 22-year-old Fallston High School (Harford County) graduate Chase Kalisz will be swimming in this year's Olympics. At the recent U.S. Olympic swim trials in Omaha, Neb., he won the 400IM, and waiting to greet him after the race was his friend, and now Olympic teammate, Phelps.
