Stories on athletes and lifechanging Olympic finishes that altered the course of their careers

Several athletes discuss how close finishes of races and events during the Olympics altered the course of their careers.

Several athletes, including Michael Phelps , Edwin Moses and Simone Manuel , talked with The Associated Press about some of those lifechanging finishes.

Manuel became the first Black female swimmer to claim an individual gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at Rio de Janeiro .

Michael Phelps' split-second victory over Milorad Cavic took his legacy to a whole new level.

Christian Smith's 800-meter photo finish at the 2008 U.S. track trials meant he would, from that moment forward, forever be known as an Olympian .

Moses estimates he put together another win streak of between 10 and 20 races after that, including the 1987 world championships.

U.S. gymnast Quinn shouldered a share of the blame for finishing runner-up to host China in 2008 team final.

Quinn 's 10 world championship medals are the most by an American gymnast not named Simone Biles .

Quinn: "I got some hilarious notes like You ruined America ’s problems".