Ryan Lochte: Michael Phelps will be back for 2020 Olympics (Video)

USA's Michael Phelps (L) and USA's Ryan Lochte celebrate on the podium after they won the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images) /

Michael Phelps teammate and rival in Ryan Lochte thinks the historically successful swimmer will be back for the 2020 Olympics

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will always be intertwined as athletes. As peers, friends, rivals, and teammates, Phelps and Lochte have been side-by-side for USA swimming for years. Along the way, they’ve combined to bring the United States 32 Olympic medals. However, Phelps has said that Rio 2016 will be his last Olympics. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Lochte has confirmed that he’ll be back for the games once more. What’s interesting, though, is that Lochte thinks this isn’t the last for Michael Phelps either.

On the day after Phelps dwarfed Lochte in the Men’s 200m IM to win another gold medal, Lochte was interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show. When asked about Phelps’ future, Lochte didn’t mince words. Though he did say he could only speak for himself, the never-shy swimmer said he believes Michael Phelps will be in the 2020 Olympics.

That’s obviously just one man’s opinion. However, you’d have to believe that the opinion of another world-class swimmer and Phelps’ teammate means a little bit more than others.

If Michael Phelps were to return to compete in the 2020 Olympics, it would truly be incredible. For a man who has been doing nothing but making history in Rio, competing in six consecutive Olympic Games might be the most impressive of all.

In terms of what Michael Phelps could potentially accomplish after four more years, that’s a whole different story. He’s clearly been dominant in Rio as he’s only added to his collection of gold medals. However, he’s also been noticeably slow getting out of the pool after races and fatigued at times. Subsequently, it’s hard to think of what this would be like on his body when he’s 35 years old.

As stated, though, Phelps has indicated that he’s done after the 2016 Olympics. Now we’ll have to wait and see. Will he hold true to his word or does Lochte knows him better than he knows himself.

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