Swimming: Phelps turns the tables on Lochte

OMAHA: Michael Phelps turned the tables on Ryan Lochte in the 200m freestyle final at the US Olympic swimming trial, edging his rival in a thriller as both booked London Games berths. Phelps led at every turn with Lochte right on his shoulder. Both came hard off the final turn, with Lochte putting on the pressure before Phelps’s final push gave him the victory in one minute 45.70 seconds while Lochte was second in 1:45.75. The two are already booked for an Olympic clash in the 400m individual medley and Lochte was already looking forward to doing it all again in London. “I love that race,” said Lochte. “I love racing against him. I could be a pool length ahead of him, and he’ll still be there at the end. He’s a great racer.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2012.