South African Chad le Cos won the gold medal, but Michael Phelps made Olympic history in the Aquatic center at the London Olympic Games on Tuesday night.

Le Clos touched home a fraction ahead of Phelps in the final moment of the men's 200 meter butterfly, when it looked as if the American was about to claim his 15th gold medal. Phelps appeared to miss his finish and Le Clos got the vital touch with his fingertips, even though he had seemed destined to finish second.

The South African's triumph means Phelps missed out on the chance to become the first male swimmer to win the same event in three separate Olympics, but Phelps still wrote his name into the Olympic record books as he claimed the 18th medal of his career.

That draws him level with Russian gymnast Larisa Latymina, who won 18 medals, with the last being won in 1964.

With other races still ahead of him, Phelps looks certain to add another medal to his tally before the end of these Games and will retire as the greatest Olympian ever, but the golory of gold went to Le Clos.