In an interview with NBC, Lochte gave a brutally honest quote about where he stands in the pecking order and what his career would be like if it weren’t for Phelps.
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Phelps blew away Ryan Lochte – and everyone else, for that matter – to win his fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics and 22nd career Olympic gold medal with a victory in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night.
Hours after their US teammates Simone Biles and Aly Raisman went head-to-head to decide who should take a gold medal home, the two most talented swimmers of their generation stepped up on the blocks to race one last time in the Olympics.
“I’ve been able to kind of finish how I wanted to”, Phelps said.
And like those American gymnasts, it seemed possible that these Americans might also finish 1-2.
Lochte finished fifth and failed to make it on to the podium alongside Phelps.
Michael Phelps waggled four fingers, recognizing another historic achievement. Lochte led at the midway point but faded to fifth with a time of 1:57.47. The clock is ticking down on Phelps, who races five more times before hanging up his suit at age 31.
Lochte has owned the 200 IM world record for seven years, but Phelps usually comes out on top against him. Lochte may never be the Michael Phelps of swimming, but he will always be the Ryan Lochte of being Ryan Lochte.
Phelps also set an Olympic record with his 15th individual medal, passing Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, and became the first swimmer ever to win the same event at four straight Olympics.
Phelps is finally retiring after these games, where he has already won his 20th and 21st gold medals.
Phelps may have tied Leonidas’ record on Tuesday, but even then he had more gold medals. He took a deep breath as his eyes welled up, and listened to his country’s national anthem.
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Phelps singled out Chase Kalisz, who took the silver medal in the 400m individual medley on Saturday, as one to watch at the Tokyo 2020 Games. It’s more friendly than competitive these days, and lacks the animosity that’s simmering underneath Phelps’ rivalry with South African swimmer Chad Le Clos.
