On Thursday night, they’ll be competing against each other in the 200-meter individual medley final during the night session in Rio, with one more Olympic gold on the line.
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Phelps led from Pereira and Lochte at the final turn and powered on as the other two faded, opening the way for Hagino and Wang to grab the two other medals.
The men’s 200 back also figures to be a very tight one, with the top four seeds coming into finals separated by just four tenths. Now Phelps has the chance to win even more medals in Rio. Phelps’ proficiency is undeniable as the most decorated Olympian in history.
Now, she’s done with what she termed a “disappointing” Olympics that included: Her failing to qualify for both the 200 freestyle and 200 back finals; and her swimming with the 4×200 free relay in its preliminary heat, not the final.
Thus likely concludes one of the greatest – and friendliest – rivalries in modern sports.
Phelps left Lochte trailing in his wake. They were the one-two punch again during the 2016 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.
Phelps had just under 35 minutes to recover before semifinals of the 100 butterfly, an event in which he has held the world record since 2009.
The American phenom surged home to touch the wall in 3:56.46, smashing her own world record of 3:58.37 set in the Gold Coast, Queensland in 2014.
While many local athletes have still yet to compete in the Rio Games, big names like Katie Ledecky, Gabby Douglas and Michael Phelps have been making headlines (and nabbing medals).
Phelps is the heavy favorite, as he should be. He is also the second most decorated swimmer ever – Phelps has 25 total, 21 of them gold.
Lochte has won four consecutive world championships in the grueling 200-meter individual medley race, but never Olympic gold.
What has hindered Lochte in this race on the Olympic stage in the past has been a combination of things. “I’ve got a gold and two silvers”.
“I guess you would say I’d be like the Michael Phelps of swimming if he wasn’t there”, Lochte told NBC News in an interview released Thursday.
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“But you know, win or lose, at the end we’re still good friends and we don’t let swimming decide that”.
