Michael Phelps of the USA kisses his gold medal after winning the 4x100 meters freestyle relay at Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug 7, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Tearful Podium

As he has done so many times in the past, Phelps kissed the medal on the podium and waved at the crowd with tears in his eyes and a supportive arm for an emotional Held and Dressel who were collecting the first Olympic medals of their careers.

"I told them, it's OK to cry. It's good to see some emotion as one of the old dudes," said Phelps.

The 35-year-old Anthony Ervin, who won 4x100 relay silver in 2000, swum in the heats to collect another medal 16 years after his first.

Jimmy Feigen and Blake Pieroni also swam in the heats.

The victory maintained a run of US success in the event, with the Americans medalling in every 4x100 freestyle relay raced at the Games since it was first included in 1964.

It also meant the United States ended the second day of the meet with two golds, level with Australia who won two on Saturday.

"I think we did our best on the night and are really happy with the bronze medal," said Australian James Magnussen who swam his team's third leg and paid tribute to Phelps.

"Michael is definitely an inspiration to many of us," he told reporters. "To stay on top of the world for that many Olympics is something that most of us couldn't even dream of.

"It gives us guys who are sort of in the middle period of our careers a lot of inspiration to think we can keep going for another Olympics.

"It's always great to see a fairy tale like that unfold in a race you are part of."