Phelps needs 1 more gold to tie, um, SA!

Cape Town - The legend that is Michael Phelps has 22 Olympic gold medals to his name - one fewer than South Africa in their history...

On Thursday in Rio, Phelps touched first in the 200m individual medley for his 22nd gold.

For added measure, Phelps also has two silver and two bronze medals in his collection.

That gold medal tally is just one shy of the 23 golds in total that South Africa has accumulated to date in 19 Olympic Games.

For the record, South Africa have six swimming golds.

Ominously - provided South Africa don't win a gold medal before then - Phelps will have a chance to "tie South Africa" in the final of the 100m butterfly on Friday night (Saturday at 03:12 SA time).

Unless of course Chad le Clos can deny him...