If this is indeed Phelps’ last Olympics, then you’ll surely want to watch the swimming legend dive in for one of his final performances.
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Knowing he was one of the few to push Phelps continuously for his entire career may be something Lochte can smile about when he does eventually call it quits. “I think so. I really think so, so Michael I’ll see you in Tokyo”.
Had Phelps won, it would’ve been his fourth consecutive gold medal in the event, and his fifth in Rio.
“It’s been a long journey”, Lochte said.
Phelps qualified for the 100m butterfly finals in wonderful fashion Thursday night, swimming in the semifinals a little more than a half hour after winning gold in the 200-meter individual medley. He brings the best out of me.
“The rivalry that we created and that friendship”.
Lochte told Lauer he “used too much energy” in the front half of the race allowing Phelps to jump to the front of the pack. He did not medal and came in fifth place.
“That kind of hurt me toward the end. It happens”, he said.
“It’s going to take a flawless performance in order to beat him just because of how tough a competitor he is”, Lochte said. And being at the age I am now, it’s definitely time that I need a break.
“I think what it means is we have just a great sporting culture and a really wonderful system of sport in our country”, said Alan Ashley, the USOC chief of sport performance.
“I’m not competing in four years”, Phelps told reporters rejecting the comments made by Ryan Lochte earlier on Friday about his presence in the next Olympics Games.
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Phelps took home the gold in the 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay and the 200m individual medley.
