![Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Dylan Martinez]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8nzz83EQn1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Dylan Martinez]
An artist performs during the pre-show at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium, August 12, 2012. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn
FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
![Technicians prepare scenery before the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8nqxqkRJW1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Technicians prepare scenery before the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch]
TODAY IN LONDON: Full coverage of the Olympic games from Reuters
![Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men’s 200m individual medley final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 2, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville]
FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m858h10cL21qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men’s 200m individual medley final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 2, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville]
FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
U.S. President Barack Obama is proving to be a swimming fan.
Less than a day after sending out a rare personal tweet to congratulate the most decorated Olympic athlete ever, Obama called Michael Phelps on the pool deck to hail his performance.
Phelps, still reeling from the previous day’s tweet, described the call as “pretty cool”.
“I answered the phone and the voice said ‘Michael?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Please hold for the President of the United States,” he told reporters on Thursday, after qualifying for the 100 metres butterfly semi-final.
“I was like, ‘wow’.”
READ ON: President Obama calls Michael Phelps before Thursday’s race
American swimmer Ryan Lochte made the biggest splash of the London Games so far by obliterating his compatriot Michael Phelps, the greatest swimmer in Olympic history, in the first of their eagerly awaited duels.
Phelps, unthinkably, finished without a medal in the 400 metres individual medley — a fate shared in the men’s road race by British favourite and world champion Mark Cavendish, outmanoeuvred and upstaged in his quest for the home nation’s first gold by Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov.
Sun Yang powered to China’s first male swimming gold in the 400 metres freestyle and his 16-year-old compatriot Ye Shiwen won the women’s 400m individual medley in a stunning world record time, putting China top of the medals table on the first full day of competition.
Phelps is bidding in London to become the most prolific Olympic medal winner in history, but may be yielding the position of world’s best swimmer to Lochte after coming only fourth in the 400m individual medley, where Phelps set the current world record in 2008.
![A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Mike Segar]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7uew1Mcr31qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Mike Segar]
![Iran’s flag bearer Ali Mazaheri (C) holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Mike Blake]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ud32jM9l1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Iran’s flag bearer Ali Mazaheri (C) holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Mike Blake]
![The Olympic rings are seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium, July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch]
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The Olympic rings are seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium, July 27, 2012. [REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch]
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