Ryan Lochte

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Ryan Lochte

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imagesize = 250px
caption = Ryan Lochte during the 2008 Olympic Trials
fullname = Ryan Steven Lochte
nicknames = The Lochtenator [Suz. [http://www.theswimaids.com/search/lochtenator/ "'Oh Ryan..."] . "The Swim Aids". 2008-08-20.]
nationality = USA
strokes = individual medley, backstroke, freestyle
club = Daytona Beach Speed Swimming
collegeteam = Florida Gators
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|8|3
birthplace = Canandaigua, New York, United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|ft=6|in=2
weight = convert|192|lb|kg
medaltemplates =

Ryan Lochte (born August 3, 1984) is an American swimmer. He is a multiple world record holder and Olympic gold medalist. He is a 2004 Olympic Champion in the 4x200m Freestyle, Olympic silver medalist in the 200m Medley and 2008 Olympics Champion in the 200m Backstroke, the 4x200m Freestyle, and bronze medalist in the 400m and 200m individual medley.

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 a close rival and friends with Michael Phelps in the individual medley events and Aaron Peirsol in the backstroke races.

Personal life

Ryan Lochte was born in Canandaigua, New York. He attended high school at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida. [cite web|url=http://www.ryanlochte.net/info/stats.php|title=INFO//stats|accessdate=2008-08-21 ]

He graduated from the University of Florida, where he swam for the University in NCAA competition. He currently lives and trains in Gainesville, Florida. [cite web|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/3/221213.shtml|title=Athlete Biography: LOCHTE Ryan|accessdate=2008-08-21 ]

Career

Collegiate career

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, setting U.S. Open and American records in the 200 yard individual medley and the 200 yard backstroke. He 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 Florida Gators. This time was faster than the record in the 100 yard butterfly at the time [cite web|url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/2e3eb08d-25fd-45d7-90bc-4a3d5b4b0498/May%2012%20SCY%20Men.pdf |title=SCY - Men In-Depth Event History|accessdate=2008-07-23 ] . The record in the 100 yard fly has since been lowered under Lochte's backstroke record.

Lochte won swimmer of the meet for his senior year.

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 collegiate eligibility with the Gators, he was sponsored by Speedo along with Katie Hoff and Kate Ziegler, thus turning professional.

International career

Lochte made his Olympic debut after finishing second to Michael 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 swam with Phelps, Klete Keller and Peter Vanderkaay to upset the Australian team and capture the gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay. He also narrowly edged out George Bovell and Laszlo Cseh in the 200 m individual medley to win the silver medal behind Phelps.

Later that year at the 2004 FINA Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis, Lochte won the silver medal in the 200 m individual medley and the bronze in the freestyle. He also won the gold medal in the 4x200 m freestyle relay.

At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada, Lochte won the bronze medals in the 200 m backstroke and individual medley, and was a part of the 4x200 m freestyle relay team which set an American record and won the gold.

Just two weeks after the 2006 NCAA Championships, at the 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships, Lochte won the world titles in the same events he won at the NCAA championships and set world records in the same events he for which he set 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.

At the 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 Peirsol's world record and his seven-year winning streak in the event. This was Lochte's his first world record in a long course event. Lochte went on to set a world record in the 4x200 freestyle relay with Michael Phelps, Klete Keller, and Peter Vanderkaay. He also won 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 again beat Piersol. In the 100 meter backstroke, he beat Peirsol's other seven-year winning streak in the shorter of the backstroke races, edging out Peirsol by .06 seconds.

On June 29, 2008, at the Olympic Trials, both Lochte and Michael Phelps broke the previous World Record. Phelps, by virtue of winning the race, set the new World Record. Lochte qualified for the 200m backstroke and 200m IM at the 2008 Summer Olympics. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the 400m IM event, with Phelps grabbing the gold in a world record time. On August 14, 2008, Lochte won the gold medal in the 200 meter backstroke, while simultaneously beating the world record.

References

ee also

*List of multiple Olympic gold medalists

External links

* [http://www.usoc.org/26_21758.htm Ryan Lochte's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
* [http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopModules/BioViewManaged.aspx?personid=ef40c7a1-7499-4931-8027-f8a7f1c4175d&TabId=388&Mid=597 USASwimming profile]