That led to him thinking Michael Phelps was Ryan Lochte and Ryan Lochte was Michael Phelps.
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“I think I used too much energy in the front half and that kind of hurt me towards the end”.
Elliotte Friedman mixed the pair up for the duration of the 200m individual medley final, which Phelps won to claim his 22nd Olympic gold medal.
The 200IM was the only individual race that Lochte qualified for in the Rio Olympics.
When he touched the wall on Thursday, it was almost three seconds behind Phelps. American Tom Shields came in seventh. As Ledecky is the nearly guaranteed gold medalist and be racing against the clock, the race will come down to the silver and bronze medals.
Phelps took home the gold in the 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay and the 200m individual medley.
Lochte told reporters that his performance Thursday would be among those he most regretted. He was a beast in his own day and is still in the history books years later.
“The Olympics are the pinnacle of our sport and I have to wait another four years to have that moment and I just wanted to enjoy it”, Ledecky said.
“This has been a very special week so far”, said Phelps.
The win extends his career record-breaking Olympic gold medals to 22, and he still has two races remaining.
He has also won 27 world championships medals in the 50-metre pool and even more in the short course (25m).
“I guarantee he will be there, ” Lochte said on NBC’s TODAY show on Friday.
“Phelps doesn’t look like he has this one in him!”
For now he just needs a break.
As someone who works in broadcast as well, there is nothing like the feeling you get when you’re on live, and you know you’ve botched it nine ways to Sunday.
The pair met eight years ago when Phelps was already an Olympic legend and Schooling a teenaged super-fan at school in Singapore.
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“I feel grateful to all who supported me and I really wish I would have a chance in the near future to respond to their support and to thank them”.
