Scintillating medley: Phelps-Lochte up for thrilling Rio show

Most decorated Olympian gold-medallist wins final race at Olympic trials


Afp July 03, 2016
“Thank you for sharing that,” Lochte quipped when asked about the stat, but the 11-time Olympic medalist said he had no trouble staying motivated to challenge Phelps. PHOTO: AFP

OMAHA: Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte set the stage for a blockbuster show in Rio with a scintillating 200m medley duel at the US Olympic swimming trials.

It was 18-time Olympic gold-medallist Phelps who emerged victorious, but he was pushed all the way by the man who has brought out his best for more than a decade. “We race each other until the last stroke,” said Phelps, and Friday was no exception.

Phelps led at every turn, but Lochte was closing in coming off the final turn into the closing freestyle leg.

They battled stroke-for-stroke before Phelps lunged for the win in 1min 55.91sec, with Lochte second in 1min 56.22sec — putting them second — and third-fastest in the world this year behind the 1min 55.07sec of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino.

“It’s kind of crazy how our races usually work,” said Phelps. “They usually do come down to the crunch.”

The two locked arms across the lane rope, both acknowledging later that what they believe was their final race before a US crowd was a bittersweet moment.

“It was definitely really something that I’m going to take to heart,” said Lochte.

Despite that valedictory feel, the race was more important to both swimmers as a springboard to a final showdown on an even bigger stage in Rio. Phelps has won the 200m medley in three straight Games, with Lochte taking two silvers and a bronze behind him.

“Thank you for sharing that,” Lochte quipped when asked about the stat, but the 11-time Olympic medalist said he had no trouble staying motivated to challenge Phelps.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2016.

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