HEREFORD, MD—A Baltimore County Public Schools graduate has won Team USA’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Chase Kalisz, a Michael Phelps protege, won the men’s 400-meter individual medley at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.  Chase is a Hereford High School graduate and is competing in his second Summer Olympic Games.

Phelps called the race for NBC some 50 yards away, according to Yahoo Sports, raised his arms into the air, and pumped a right fist.

“My heart is about to pop out of my chest,” Phelps said on the broadcast. “I’m so stoked right now.”

Kalisz was in second place until it was time for the breaststroke, according to CBS Sports. That’s when he took the lead and never looked back. After staying in first during his freestyle, Kalisz won with a time of 4:09.42.

Another American, Jay Litherland, took the silver medal while Brendon Smith of Australia finished third.

“Way to go kid,” Phelps exclaimed from up above. “Attaboy.”

Read more about Chase Kalisz’s story here at BCPS.

We love a good Team USA 1-2! 💪🇺🇸 #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/f1uUrFugoB

— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 25, 2021

🥇 Congratulations to Chase for winning Team USA’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Games! https://t.co/gsdLJ2kM5q

— Baltimore County Public Schools (@BaltCoPS) July 25, 2021

Photo via Baltimore County Public Schools