First, Lochte went as far as to guarantee on the Today Show that Phelps isn’t finished as a competitive swimmer.
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‘It’s rather incredible to think of Michael’s journey since 2004 at age 15 and now 31, ‘ Debbie Phelps said.
Debbie Phelps added: ‘I’ve never seen him so happy as he is now’.
On Thursday night, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte competed against each other in what is nearly certainly the last time in the Olympics, with Phelps winning the gold in the 200 individual medley.
The 2012 London Games were supposed to be Phelps’ final Olympics as he retired from the sport. The second-most decorated USA men’s swimmer in history just turned 32 years old and said Friday he’s taking a break from the sport, although he didn’t rule out returning for Tokyo. I saw that today and I thought, ‘Oh, thanks Ryan!
“Ryan Lochte is going to beat Michael Phelps in this event in the Games and Phelps might not even make the podium!”
Phelps made his Olympics debut in 2000, winning his first gold in Athens in 2004.
Entering the arena like a gladiator, his face a granite mask of concentration, Phelps dominated a grudge final le Clos had billed as “Ali versus Frazier” to become the oldest individual swimming gold medallist in Olympic history at 31.
Aside from breaking the ancient record, Thursday’s 200-meter individual medley win was Phelps’ fourth consecutive victory in that category – putting him with track and field Olympians Al Oerter and Carl Lewis as the only Americans to win an individual event four times! ‘I think so. I really think so. “And I think he’s coming back again”. The second most-decorated US men’s swimmer in history, Lochte said he needs a break from the sport.
“Throwing me out there for another four years.’ If he wants to come back for another four years, it will be fun to watch”.
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This was a relay event, so one could argue that Phelps was weighed down by the three other members of the team.
