Ryan Lochte News and Olympic 2016 Schedule: Swimmer Bags His First Gold in 4x200 freestyle, 200-meter IM to Follow

By Regin Anthony Salo Olimberio, CP Contributor Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Ryan Lochte finally got his first gold from the ongoing Rio Olympics together with team mates in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay, Tuesday night.

The event is the first swim for Lochte in this edition of the Olympiad. During the heats, Lochte participated with all-rookie team including Gunnar Bentz, Clark Smith and Jack Conger. Then, the lineup was immediately changed during the finals to include himself, Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas and the legend Michael Phelps.

Team USA finished second against top rival Great Britain who sports 33 milliseconds faster during the morning's preliminary with seven minutes 6.31 seconds. Russia performed well in the heats with seven minutes 6.81 seconds.

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The standing changed in the finals when Lochte's team USA bested others in the evening quartet swim, USA finished seven minutes 00.66 second against Britain's seven minutes 03.13 seconds. Japan garnered bronze with a hairline difference of seven minutes 4.18 seconds while the contender Russia fell to fifth with seven minutes 05.70 seconds.

Meanwhile, the 200-meter individual medley is the only other remaining event for Lochte in Rio. He is to swim from lane 4 of heat 2 which is scheduled at 1:14 a.m. Thursday. Lochte missed his supposed defense in the 400-meter individual medley after failing to qualify due to a strain in the groin, limiting him to just two events in Rio.

Lochte-Phelps rivalry

In related development, Lochte speak about Michael Phelps by joking that it is not Curry-James rivalry that is the biggest is sports but Lochte-Phelps. He said that if there is a survey, he will definitely vote for himself since the comparison between then roots from 2004 while the NBA stars just started theirs a couple of years ago. Lochte also stressed that what he and Phelps has is a healthy competition since they are good friends outside the swimming pool.

In comparison, Phelps has already bagged three gold medals in Rio to amass a total of 25 medals (21 gold) since starting his illustrious career. Phelps earlier finished first in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and Men's 200-meter butterfly, then the 4x200 with Lochte is the third.

Then the rivalry is sure to be rekindled on Thursday when Phelps competes against Lochte for the 200-meter individual medley. The last event for the most decorated Olympian of all times is the 100-meter butterfly that is scheduled on Friday. Altogether, Phelps will have a chance to add two more medals for a total of four in Rio.