U.S. swim trials: Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte renew rivalry
Olympians clinch spots in 200 IM at Rio Games
Matching each other stroke for stroke, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte surged to the wall in almost perfect sync.
Phelps got there first, just ahead of the guy who's pushed him hard for more than a decade.
It was like so many races they've had before.
There's one more to go in Rio.
In the latest epic of their longtime rivalry — and billed as the last showdown in their home country — Phelps edged Lochte in the 200-metre individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials on Friday.
"Ryan and I always have a great race with one another," said Phelps, who plans to retire again after his fifth Olympics. "When we race each other, we bring each other to a different level."
'A dogfight to the end'
Phelps led from start to finish, but Lochte was right with him all the way. In fact, he seemed to pull even midway through the final lap, but the most decorated athlete in Olympic history managed to get to the wall in 1 minute, 55.91 seconds.
Lochte was next at 1:56.22 and had no complaints about the consolation prize: his only individual race at the Olympics.
"I knew going into this race it was definitely going to be a dogfight to the end," Lochte said. "It's been a long journey, but the journey's not over. We still have another month to get ready and show the world that the U.S. is No. 1."
Lochte, an 11-time medalist, injured his groin on the very first day of the meet, struggled in his next few races and was down to his final chance to get a swim of his own at the Rio Games.
Now, that's out of the way, which means Phelps and Lochte will get another crack at each other in South America.
Duo to battle in Rio
"I don't know of another person in this world who brings out the best in me like he does," said Phelps. "Neither one of us likes to lose."
Phelps has locked up two individual events for Rio, having already qualified in the 200 butterfly. He returned about 30 minutes after his victory over Lochte to post the sixth-fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 fly.
That was good enough to send Phelps to the final Saturday — his last event of the trials.
Then it's on to Rio, where one more race with Lochte awaits.