LONDON – The finale was a formality, more a coronation than a contest. Michael Phelps headed into the retirement the only way imaginable — with another gold medal.

The U.S. swimming team won the gold medal in the relay 4×100, and the most successful athlete in Olympic history and sports, Michael Phelps finished his career with 18th gold medal.

The Americans won going away in 3 minutes, 29.35 seconds, just off their own Olympic record from Beijing. Japan held on for silver in 3:31.26, with Australia taking the bronze in 3:31.68.

This is 22nd Michael Phelps’ Olympic medal in his career. He had previously announced that this was his last competition, and he will retire after Olympic Games. Phelps is participated in the Olympic Games for the first time in Athens in 2004, then in Beijing in 2008. and now in London.

He can be quite proud of his final Olympics as well, even though there were times he had trouble staying motivated after winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games four years ago.

Bouncing back from a disappointing first race in London, a fourth-place finish in the 400 individual medley, Phelps wound up with more medals than any other swimmer at the games: four golds and two silvers.