Team USA had two of it’s brightest stars go head-to-head for one final time one final time on Thursday as the most decorated Olympian of all-time Michael Phelps raced against his teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual relay.
Everyone had anticipated a back and forth race between the two men and they did not disappoint.
When it was all said and done, Phelps and Lochte finished first and second in the event with Phelps defending his title by a mere .63 second margin. Lochte finished second and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh got the bronze.
With the gold medal victory, Phelps became the first man to win an individual event in three straight Olympics.
On top of Lochte’s second-place in the 200-meter individual medley, he won bronze in the 200-meter backstroke finishing behind USA’s Tyler Clary and Japan’s Ryosuke Irie. Just twenty minutes after that race he needed to get ready for his final Olympic showdown with Phelps.
It was the 20th medal of Phelps Olympic career and the 11th for Lochte. Lochte is now the second most decorated male Olympian in United States history behind only Phelps. The two cap off a great Olympics for Team USA swimming.
Topics: 2012 Olympics, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, USA Swimming
