But at the end of Thursday night’s races, there could be only one.
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Competing in the men’s 200-meter individual medley Thursday, Phelps will be swimming against one of his relay teammates – Ryan Lochte, 32. The Americans are the top two all-time performers in the event.
The showdown between Phelps and Lochte highlights what should be an exciting night of Olympic coverage by NBC Sports, which will be streaming it all live.
In this grueling event that tests a swimmer’s versatility and strength, Lochte had finished either second or third to Phelps in this event every Olympic year since 2004. “I do feel like I talk to him more and joke around with him more than I really did in the past”, Phelps said. The athlete still has many more things to aspire for such as more Olympic medals, finding the girl of his dreams, and establishing his very own family. If Phelps takes gold in the 200m IM, then he will leave the greatest athlete of antiquity in his wake too!
No swimmer has ever won four golds in the same individual event in consecutive Olympics.
The 31-year-old, who had already golds from the 4×100, 4x200m and 200m butterfly under his belt in Rio, took his competitors apart with a devastating display of swimming.
Phelps was timed in 1 minute 54.66 seconds. Phelps beat him in Athens, Beijing and London. “He won’t give up and that’s awesome”. With the exception of Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, perhaps no one has pushed him harder than Lochte, who has battled him for 12 years in the 200 and 400 IM. He plans to marry his fiancé after the games and focus on life with their infant son.
History maker Michael Phelps (USA) has another series of milestones in his sights as he prepares to defend in Rio his 200m individual medley title for the third Games running. “I wish a did a little better”. Still, they’ve shared five medals on relay teams together, four gold and one silver.
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Three days after winning the 100 back, Murphy touched first again in 1:53.62. “I’m fine with that (time) but I’d like to have those seven or eight minutes in between”. (Right) After medaling on August 9 in Rio.(AP/Mark J. Terrill, Reuters/Marcos Brindicci)(Left) Phelps outside the pool at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in 2001.
