2009 100m Butterfly World Championship Final: A Historic Race for Phelps

A Race to Remember

In 2009, Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic faced off in the 100m butterfly world championship final, a race that would have far-reaching implications for Phelps' legacy.

A Close Call

The race was decided by a mere 1 hundredth of a second, with Phelps edging out Cavic for the gold medal. This victory marked Phelps' record-breaking 10th gold medal at a single Olympics, making him the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time.

The race was a testament to the intense rivalry between Phelps and Cavic. Both swimmers took 16 strokes, but Cavic's stroke index of 106 was slightly more efficient than Phelps' 103. Despite this, Phelps managed to out-split Cavic by 0.62 seconds, securing his historic victory.