Ryan Lochte (born August 3, 1984 in Canandaigua, NY)
is an American world record swimmer who won medals
at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Lochte specializes in
the backstroke and individual medley, but is also a
freestyle relay swimmer. He is noted for the speed
and distance he attains while kicking underwater. He
is noted for his rivalries with fellow Americans and
world record holders Michael Phelps in the
individual medley events and Aaron Peirsol in the
backstroke races.
Lochte made his Olympic debut after finishing second
to Phelps in the 200 m individual medley at the US
trials. He also qualified for the 4x200 m freestyle
relay team. At the Olympics, Lochte combined with
Phelps, Klete Keller and Peter Vanderkaay to upset
the Australian team and capture the gold medal. He
also narrowly edged out George Bovell and Laszlo
Cseh in the 200 m individual medley to claim silver,
behind Phelps.
Later that year at the 2004 FINA Short Course World
Championships in Indianapolis, Lochte claimed silver
and bronze in the 200 m individual medley and
freestyle respectively. He also added a gold in the
4x200 m freestyle relay.
At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in
Montreal, Canada, Lochte claimed double bronze in
the 200 m backstroke and individual medley, and was
a part of the 4x200 m freestyle relay team which set
an American record along the way to winning gold.
At the 2006 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving
Championships held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic
Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Lochte won individual
titles in all three of his individual events,
claiming U.S. Open and American records in the 200
yard individual medley and the 200 yard backstroke
and broke Tom Dolan's nearly decade old NCAA record
in the 400 yard individual medley. He set another
U.S. Open and American record in the 100 yard
backstroke leading off the 4x100 yard medley relay
for the University of Florida Gators. It is worth
noting that this time was faster the record in the
100 yard butterfly at the time, a rare occurrence.
The record in the 100 yard fly has since been
lowered under Lochte's backstroke record. He went on
to win swimmer of the meet for his senior year.
Just two weeks later, at the 2006 FINA Short Course
World Championships he would repeat these same
events, claiming world titles in the same events he
won at the NCAA championships and claim world
records in the same events he for which he claimed
American records. He won two individual events in
the 200 m individual medley and the 200 m
backstroke, setting new world records in both
events. He also set another world record in the 100
m backstroke, in the opening leg of the 4x100 m
medley relay, becoming the first man to complete the
distance in under 50 seconds. He won a third gold
medal in the 400 m individual medley, setting a new
American record. He was named as the male swimmer of
the meet by FINA.
Other accomplishments in 2006 include breaking the
11-year old SEC record in the 100 butterfly
previously held by John Hargis. After finishing his
fourth year of eligibility with the Gators, he was
sponsored by Speedo along with Katie Hoff and Kate
Ziegler.
At the FINA 2007 World Aquatics Championships in
Melbourne, Australia, Lochte won his first
individual gold medal at a long course world
championship in the 200 m backstroke against
American Aaron Peirsol, breaking his world record
and his seven-year winning streak in the event. The
last time he had lost this race was to Lenny
Krayzelburg at the 2000 Summer Olympics. This race
marked his first world record in a long course
event, despite numerous short course world records
and a seemingly endless streak of silvers and close
finishes to world record holders Michael Phelps in
the individual medley events and Peirsol in the
backstroke races. He went on to set a world record
in the 4x200 freestyle relay with Michael Phelps,
Klete Keller, and Peter Vanderkaay. He also earned
silver medals in the 100 m backstroke, the 200 m IM,
and the 400 m IM, making his medal total for the
meet second to only Phelps.
Within a week of the world championships, Lochte
competed in the annual Mutual of Omaha Duel in the
pool where he upset the backstroke king again. In
the 100 meter backstroke, he snapped Peirsol's other
seven-year winning streak in the shorter of the
backstroke races, edging out the world record holder
by .06 seconds.
He graduated from the University of Florida, where
he swam for the University in NCAA competition. He
currently lives and trains in Gainesville, Florida.
