She will swim the final Friday night, seeking to complete a sweep of the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles for the first time since the 1968 Mexico City Games.
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First he tied an ancient sports record at the Rio Olympics. He is also the second most decorated swimmer ever – Phelps has 25 total, 21 of them gold.
Rie Kaneto claimed Japan’s second swimming gold medal of the Rio Olympics by winning the women’s 200m breaststroke final.
Phelps acknowledged during the interview he wasn’t exactly a “normal” teenager.
Days after Schwazer won the world championship in Rome in May, he tested positive for a steroid in further analysis of a sample given in January. As it is, he’s respected and admired, but he’s not in the same stratosphere as Phelps.
Phelps qualified fastest for the 200m individual medley decider with a time of 1 minute 55.78 seconds in his semifinal at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on Wednesday. He also has lost to Phelps in three consecutive Olympic trials. They finished in a time of 42.440 seconds, lowering the Olympic record that the Kiwis set in the previous round.
“When we go up on the blocks, we’re always trying to win – that’s just the competitive instinct we have”, he added.
At the end of the interview, Phelps shared his goals for the future: “I just want to get faster”.
“He won’t give up and that’s awesome. And hopefully I do the same for him”.
After absorbing a strong start from local favourite Thiago Pereira, Phelps took charge on the backstroke leg before powering away to win in one minute, 54.66 seconds – nearly two seconds clear of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino in second.
But while this competition between friends is tipped toward Phelps, Lochte has his own victories. Lochte finished fifth with 1:57.47.
“It’s exciting”, said Phelps, an enthusiastic Ravens fan.
“I am really looking forward to it, I can’t wait”, Bronte said.
This was touted as the last showdown between two of America’s greatest swimmers, though there’s never been any question about which one had the upper hand.
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He explained that he’s been constantly eating to help him become one of the greatest swimmers like Phelps. On their sport’s grandest stage. “We bring the best out of each other”, Lochte said. “But at the same time I love a challenge, and that’s why I do the events that I do and going up against him is a challenge”. Especially if he can somehow find that one extra gear.
