Michael Phelps finished his career in the most Phelps way possible -- by winning a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
About 45 minutes later, the 31-year-old took the Olympic podium for the final time and listened to "The Star-Spangled Banner" with his gold medal draped around his neck.
Phelps fought back tears but eventually gave in, which created a chain reaction across the world. Here come the waterworks ...
My sister is literally crying over Michael Phelps' last gold medal pic.twitter.com/D3XTp7Ei8a
— Mason (@Masey_pint) August 14, 2016
Did anybody else get super emotional when phelps was crying Bc same
— Court (@courttwelch) August 14, 2016
Just can't... Seeing Phelps at the 22 gold, 28 total still crying on the podium is everything and amazing and i just want to cry with him 🙌
— Franci Castelli (@framari) August 14, 2016
Sitting on my couch, eating Taco Bell, crying that Michael Phelps is retiring. Not sure why he's doin this to us. Need another taco.
— Elizabeth Howard (@eliz_howard) August 14, 2016
I don't even know why I'm crying....I'm not even American #Phelps#LastOlympics#FarewellFriend
— Allie Grant (@FabulousSparkle) August 14, 2016
IM cRYING I LOVE U PHELPS pic.twitter.com/kkkpx87ufy
— lindsey ↟ (@lhaith1) August 14, 2016
I've literally been crying for the past hour bc Michael Phelps
— shannon misses 5sos (@adidastyles28) August 14, 2016
brb crying F O R E V E R over Michael Phelps pic.twitter.com/7uNuMEtV7j
— Sofia (@sofia3293) August 14, 2016
Okay I'm actually crying this is Phelps last swim .... Someone ship me tissues I'm a mess pic.twitter.com/905gs8i3vT
— Luisa (@Moonchildlulu) August 14, 2016
Many, including a handful of Phelps' teammates, think they'll see him in the pool once again -- possibly at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But if this was Phelps' final goodbye, it was certainly a tearful one.
