Lochte chasing Phelps record
Source: Agencies |
December 21, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it was a record people thought would last decades - or at least a generation.
Ryan Lochte has other thoughts.
The American just completed a Phelps-like program at the short course world championships in Dubai and the results over eight events were pretty impressive.
Lochte won all five individual races he entered - just like Phelps in Beijing - and also pushed the United States ahead of Russia to win the 400 medley relay on the final night of competition on Sunday, ending with six golds and a silver overall.
The performance showed what Lochte might be capable of at the 2012 London Games.
"He's certainly establishing himself as the best swimmer in the world, and he's doing that in a way where I don't think we're seeing any end," said US assistant coach David Marsh. "In many ways, I think we're just seeing the beginning of what he can do."
The world records Lochte set in the 200 and 400 individual medleys were the only individual world records set in swimming all year, since high-tech bodysuits were banned at the beginning of 2010.
The only events Lochte didn't win in Dubai were two relays.
The United States took silver in the 800 freestyle and finished fourth in the 400 free. If Phelps and a couple other missing Americans had been here to help out, eight golds would certainly have been within reach for Lochte.
"We all think he can do eight events," Marsh said. "The great thing about him is he's very coachable. He proved at the last Olympic trials that he can handle short doubles and he has a good capacity for recovery."
Rivalry
Lochte already beat Phelps in the 200 IM and 200 backstroke at the US championships this summer, then won six golds to Phelps' five at the Pan Pacific Championships in August.
"Eight gold medals is pretty impossible to surpass, but Ryan is definitely holding his own and I think the rivalry between the two will only make both of them better," said three-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin, who used to swim a grueling multi-event program. "Right now Ryan is swimming very, very well."
The next major battle between Lochte and Phelps should come in July at the long course worlds in Shanghai. Then it's on to the US trials and London.
Lochte has not yet calculated how many events he plans to swim in London. "I'm just racing, and however many events I'm able to do, I'll do it," he said. "But I just like racing, so it could be one event, it could be 20, as long as I'm racing and having fun it doesn't matter."
Ryan Lochte has other thoughts.
The American just completed a Phelps-like program at the short course world championships in Dubai and the results over eight events were pretty impressive.
Lochte won all five individual races he entered - just like Phelps in Beijing - and also pushed the United States ahead of Russia to win the 400 medley relay on the final night of competition on Sunday, ending with six golds and a silver overall.
The performance showed what Lochte might be capable of at the 2012 London Games.
"He's certainly establishing himself as the best swimmer in the world, and he's doing that in a way where I don't think we're seeing any end," said US assistant coach David Marsh. "In many ways, I think we're just seeing the beginning of what he can do."
The world records Lochte set in the 200 and 400 individual medleys were the only individual world records set in swimming all year, since high-tech bodysuits were banned at the beginning of 2010.
The only events Lochte didn't win in Dubai were two relays.
The United States took silver in the 800 freestyle and finished fourth in the 400 free. If Phelps and a couple other missing Americans had been here to help out, eight golds would certainly have been within reach for Lochte.
"We all think he can do eight events," Marsh said. "The great thing about him is he's very coachable. He proved at the last Olympic trials that he can handle short doubles and he has a good capacity for recovery."
Rivalry
Lochte already beat Phelps in the 200 IM and 200 backstroke at the US championships this summer, then won six golds to Phelps' five at the Pan Pacific Championships in August.
"Eight gold medals is pretty impossible to surpass, but Ryan is definitely holding his own and I think the rivalry between the two will only make both of them better," said three-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin, who used to swim a grueling multi-event program. "Right now Ryan is swimming very, very well."
The next major battle between Lochte and Phelps should come in July at the long course worlds in Shanghai. Then it's on to the US trials and London.
Lochte has not yet calculated how many events he plans to swim in London. "I'm just racing, and however many events I'm able to do, I'll do it," he said. "But I just like racing, so it could be one event, it could be 20, as long as I'm racing and having fun it doesn't matter."
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