Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay Are Ready to Challenge the World’S Fastest Man/E5
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 ☆ washingtontimes.com/sports SECTION E ■ Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay are ready to challenge the world’s fastest man/E5 ■ Ryan Lochte looks to trump Michael Phelps in his rival’s fi nal Olympics/E2 ■ LaShawn Merritt nearly blew his chance at London/E4 ■ Julie Zetlin is a one-woman U.S. team/E6 Th e Offi cial Newspaper of 2012 – Online, On Th e Air, On Your Doorstep E2 | SPORTS ☆ R FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 2012 LONDON ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS Ryan Lochte (left ) took home fi ve gold medals from the world championships in Shanghai last year, and Baltimore area native Michael Phelps collected eight golds from the Beijing Games in 2008. Th e rivalry continues when the U.S. Olympic swimming team hits the water in London, and Phelps already has announced he will retire aft er the games. Duel inSWIMMING the pool Phelps, Lochte are taking rivalry to sport’s biggest stage BY KELLY PARSONS for us that I don’t think any other athlete THE WASHINGTON TIMES could have ever done ... he put swimming in superstar status.” ichael Phelps wasn’t even sup- posed to swim in this event. New kid on the block After winning eight gold It’s almost impossible to pass a magazine Mmedals at the 2008 Olympics, stand without seeing Ryan Lochte’s face on Phelps said he was forever dropping the the cover. That’s because USA Swimming’s grueling 400-meter individual medley new “it” boy fi nally decided to stop spend- from his program. But four years later, ing his career in the shadows. he stood at the base of the starting block Lochte will compete in his third Olym- at the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, pics and try to add to his six medals. He Neb., preparing to take it on again. won two gold medals in Beijing, setting a To his immediate right stood Ryan pair of world records in the process. Lochte, the up-and-comer who has been But he still wasn’t satisfi ed. When he Phelps’ biggest threat since they left Beijing. arrived home from Beijing, Lochte made Separately, they represent one-half of the drastic lifestyle changes and adjusted his biggest rivalry in swimming, possibly the training routine. He’s increased his weight entire 2012 Olympic Games. Together, they training, even engaging in strongman com- are the future of the sport to which they’ve petitionlike workouts. He cut out junk food. devoted their youth. Right away, he saw it pay off in the pool. With his Florida Gator-blue capped Like a masochist, Lochte thrives on head lowered as he shook out his pre-event having nothing left to give after a workout. jitters, Lochte paid no mind to the banners It’s those kinds of results that have al- displaying his name in the stands directly lowed Lochte to approach this year’s games behind him or to the posters heralding his with a diff erent mindset. He refuses to be face. Michael Phelps (top) and Ryan Lochte fi gure to dominate the headlines in swimming and just second-best. Right next to him, Phelps’ ears were still may generate the biggest buzz in the entire London Games. “I feel like this is my time,” Lochte said. swallowed up by enormous red head- “Whenever I go on the blocks, no matter phones. He didn’t hear the PA announcer what it is or who it is, I always feel like I can call out his name or the cheers from the returning from Beijing that he will retire At the 2011 FINA world championships win.” raucous crowd of 13,000 strong. once this year’s Olympic Games are over. in Shanghai, Phelps saw routine success. There’s a reason for that unabashed con- Not more than fi ve minutes later, the Phelps will put to rest a career that has But others, Lochte included, began catching fi dence. In Shanghai last year, Lochte took race would be fi nished, the fi rst spot on the earned him 16 Olympic medals, six current up. home fi ve golds. He beat Phelps and set the U.S. Olympic swim team won. But the race world records and international fame. So Phelps has spent the past year and world record in the 200-meter IM. — and their relationship — always had been Expectations are high for Phelps after a half zeroed in, preparing for the end of a His recent rise to stardom has been about more than just winning. Beijing. His are even loftier. And though he 16-year career. helped by cover stories and photo shoots “[I think it is] probably going to be one declines to specify them, Phelps still has He will swim seven events in his fourth for Vogue, Men’s Health and GQ magazines. of the biggest rivalries ever,” Lochte told dreams he wants to realize. and fi nal Olympics and needs to medal in He’s done commercials for Gatorade and reporters two days earlier. “I honestly think “There comes an end to everything, and just three to become the most decorated Gillette. we could change the sport.” for me and my career, I never want to look Olympian of all time. He also will have four But despite Lochte’s recently found fame, They dove in. back and say, ‘What if I did this one way chances to become the fi rst Olympian to with the potential for more after the 2012 and that one way?’” Phelps said. “I want to win the same event (200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Olympics, that’s far from his biggest motiva- One more chance do everything I ever wanted to do before I fl y, 200 fl y) in three straight games. tor. Instead, it’s just a welcome byproduct of Fifteen-year-old Michael Phelps was retire. But even if he falls short of those ambi- doing what he loves. the youngest swimmer on the 2000 U.S. “Two years after Beijing it was pretty tions, the contributions he’s already made “Once I start thinking about the money, Olympic team by almost two years. The clear that I wasn’t doing everything that I to the sport can’t be erased. Phelps said he’s thinking about how many golds or med- naive teenager, who even forgot to tie his could do.” spent his career trying to take swimming als, that’s when I feel like swimming will suit before an event, failed to medal in his Phelps hit a rough patch in the months “to a new level.” probably no longer be fun for me,” Lochte fi rst international trip. But as his coach Bob following his rise to superstardom in 2008. As far as one U.S. Olympic teammate is said. “I told myself I’ll quit swimming once Bowman put it, they were just happy to be After a photo in which Phelps appeared concerned, Phelps has achieved that goal. I stop having fun, and right now I’m having there. to be smoking marijuana was published in “He is a huge part of the reason that a blast.” That Phelps is a long-faded memory. 2009, USA Swimming handed its golden swimming is what it is today,” Brendan Now 27, he announced shortly upon boy a three-month suspension. Hansen said. “He broke barriers and walls » see RIVALRY | E3 “I feel like this is my time,” Lochte said. “Whenever I go on the blocks, no matter what it is or who it is, I always feel like I can win.” FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 ☆ R SPORTS | E3 2012 LONDON But just like he’s been doing for the past RIVALRY four years, Lochte, a “back-halfer,” caught From page E2 up. The heat from the fl ames shooting up around the perimeter of the pool deck was palpable. The crowd roared as Phelps and Th eir worlds collide Lochte went stroke for stroke approaching Phelps is sure to experience obstacles as the fi nal 100 meters. he attempts to make Olympic history in the In a moment that defi ned the rest of fi nal swim meet of his career. But expect the the trials, and likely the future of the 2012 biggest of them to be his teammate. Olympics, Lochte took a lead in the free- Phelps and Lochte have been squaring style he wouldn’t relinquish. For most of the off since the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and last length, Phelps swam at Lochte’s feet, Phelps always had had the upper hand. taking in the unfamiliar sight of someone That has changed. else between him and the wall at a race’s Phelps conceded that Lochte has “de- end. stroyed” him in major meets lately. Lochte “[He is obviously] great competition,” is hoping to see similar results in London. Bowman said after the race. “He just kicked Both have said they don’t pay attention to our [rear].” what the other is doing; that the only things It would be the only head-to-head they can control are their own races. Simply matchup he took from Phelps during the watch them swim against Olympic Trials, as each other to see that’s Lochte came in second far from the truth. to Phelps in the 200- “Ryan and Michael, meter IM and the 200- when they’re next to meter freestyle fi nals in each other, they are so the days that followed. focused on racing each But by snatching the other,” Bowman said fi rst Olympic team spot following the 200-meter from the hands of a guy freestyle fi nal at the who’s not used to com- Olympic Trials.