Ryan Lochte impresses with seven medals at the World Championships
Ryan Lochte, American swimmer overtook Michael Phelps as the best swimmer for the year 2010 at the 2011 US Championships. Next, he aims to battle Phelps on the podium. He beat Phelps in the 200m Individual Medley and 200m back-stroke
at the US championships, this summer. At the end of the championship, Lochte won six gold medals in contrast to Phelps’s five gold medals.
Lochte wanted to participate in eight events at the short-course World Championships to level Phelps’s record of eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His chances of achieving his goal improved because Phelps was not
taking part at the 10th FINA World Championships held in Dubai from 15-19 December, in 2010.
Lochte was listed to take part in five individual events at the championship, which included the 100m, 200m and 400m Individual Medley, 200m freestyle and 200m back-stroke. He was also a part of the 4*100m and 4*200m freestyle
relay squad, respectively. The only question was whether he will compete in 4*100m medley relay, as Lochte wanted to compete in this event but it was not his call and the final decision was of the coach. According to coaches, Lochte’s task was difficult to
accomplish as Phelps won his eight gold medals in Beijing in nine days, whereas, Lochte’s events were condensed into five days.
On day one of the championship, all swimmers who qualified for the 200m freestyle final, improved the 1999 championship record of 1:43.28 minutes, set by Ian Thorpe. Here, Lochte set the new championship record of 1:41.08 minutes,
but he was not satisfied with his performance in the event.
After his victory in the 200m freestyle, Lochte was an unstoppable man on the next day. He made the first individual world record of his life in the 400m Individual Medley with a superb timing of 3.55.50 minutes. While recalling
his WR effort, Lochte said, “I didn’t feel so good until the 200m, and then I started to feel myself again. Every year, people get faster and WR are made to be beaten, so it’s just a question of time.”
The 4*200m freestyle relay was the most thrilling race of day two, where USA’s relay team finished as the runners-up just 0.54 seconds after the Russians, who came first. So, Lochte earned his third medal of the tournament on day
two.
On day three of the championship, Lochte was again unbeatable, as he set a new world record in the 200m Individual Medley. Finishing first with a timing of 1:50.08 minutes, he improved the world record with a remarkable distance,
which was set by Darian Townsend in 2009, with an effort of 1:51.55 minutes.
Lochte’s scintillating performance continued on day four, where he won his fifth medal of the competition in the 200m back-stroke meet. He comfortably controlled the entire race and set the championship record with a superb 1:46.68 minutes effort.
His sixth medal and fifth gold of the competition was secured by him on day five of the championship, in the 100m Individual Medley meet. He set the championship record for 100m IM in the semi-finals with a time of 50.81 minutes, but finished slightly slower
in the finals with an effort of 50.86 seconds.
Finally, Lochte won his last gold of the championship in the 4*100m freestyle, ending the event with the biggest success of his career. Lochte won seven medals in this championship including six gold medals and a silver title. He stood as the best male swimmer
of the championship.
The year 2010 saw Lochte’s best performance, as he previously earned six gold medals at the US championships this summer. His enhanced performance is a threat to Michael Phelps, the star of Olympics events, who he defeated at the US championships in the
200m Individual Medley and 200m back-stroke meet. The improved performance of Lochte and the return of Ian Thorpe have increased threats for Michael Phelps in the near future.
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