The Tokyo Games are almost here. We individually revisit an amazing Olympic memory, per diem, over the 25-day leadup.
This countdown began on Monday, June 28. Here are parts one, two, three and four.
NBC will have comprehensive coverage of the Tokyo Olympics' Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 23, beginning live at 6:55 a.m. ET. The ceremony will be re-aired at 7:30 p.m. ET for U.S. viewers who tune in for primetime, then replayed again overnight.
For more thrilling Olympic memories, stream the Great Moments channel on Peacock.
1 | Michael Phelps, 2004 Athens Games
Gold - Men's 400m Individual Medley
Michael Phelps left the Rio the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 total medals. His very first came 12 years prior at the 2004 Athens Games.
The 19-year-old broke a world record to win No. 1, a gold in the men's 400m individual medley. His time of 4:08.26 won him the final by 3.55 seconds.
Phelps also won gold in the 100m fly, 200m fly, 200m IM, 4x200m free relay and 4x100m medley relay. He took bronze in the 200m free and 4x100m free relay. Phelps’s eight medals tied the record for most medals won at one Games with Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin, who also won eight in 1980.
2 | Caeleb Dressel, U.S. Swim Trials in 2021
1st - Men's 100m Freestyle
Two-time reigning world 100m freestyle champion Caeleb Dressel won the event at U.S. Trials in 47.39 to qualify for his second Olympics.
Dressel, the 100m free U.S. record-holder, will be joined in Tokyo by Zach Apple. Blake Pieroni and Brooks Curry will come along for the 4x100m.
3 | Sam Mikulak, U.S. Gym Trials in 2021
2nd-Best High Bar of Trials
Two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak, after a relatively low parallel bars score of 13.750, rebounded big on the high bar during U.S. Trials.
His score, 14.750, was the competition's second highest behind only Brody Malone's 14.800.