Michael Phelps qualifies for record-breaking fifth Olympic Games

The 31-year-old secured his place on the US team after a win in Nebraska

No American swimmer has qualified for five Olympics - until now (AP)

It is hard to know where to begin when describing the impact Michael Phelps has had on the world of swimming.

He is already the most decorated Olympian of all-time, with 22 medals to his name. But on Wednesday evening, in a pool in Nebraska, he made more Olympic history even before the Rio games begin by qualifying for an unprecedented fifth time. No American male swimmer has done that before. Indeed, along with Dara Torres, he is now one of just two American swimmers to have achieved that feat.

Phelps, who is now 31, secured his place by making a time of 1:54 to take first place in the final of the 200 metre butterfly at the US swimming trials in the city of Omaha.

Cheered on by a capacity crowd that included his fiancée Nicole and their infant son Boomer, Phelps held up five fingers to the crowd to signify his remarkable accomplishment, the Associated Press said.

Phelps secured his spot with a win at trials in Nebraska (AP)

“It’s the reason I came back, I wanted to make another Olympics,” said Phelps, who came out of retirement in 2014. “Just to be able to get five I am at a loss for words."

He added: “Having the opportunity to represent my country again is something I have been dreaming about a lot.”

Missy Franklin is also going to Rio (Reuters)

Missy Franklin, a five-time Olympic medalist, also secured her place not the US team, with a gritty 200-metre freestyle race, finishing second to Katie Ledecky.

“I’ve had some ups and downs so far, but this is definitely an up, and I plan on riding this for as long as I can,” said Franklin.