Michael Phelps is without a doubt the most famous American swimmer, but USA teammate Ryan Lochte is doing his best to take a bit of that glory at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
Michael Phelps Loses Again As Ryan Lochte Sets World Record In 200 IM At 2011 World Championships
Lochte and Phelps each had one gold medal from this year’s swimming championships heading into Thursday’s 200-meter individual medley, but it was Lochte who regained the lead while setting a new world record by finishing in 1 minute 54.00 seconds to narrowly defeat Phelps. Phelps finished with a time of 1:54.16, a new personal record, but not quite fast enough to take down his new nemesis.
As has been the case this week, Phelps told the Washington Post that this loss was more a fault of his not being fully prepared rather than Lochte being the better swimmer.
“I thought I had it on the last stroke,” Phelps said. “I felt myself gaining and gaining and gaining. It is what it is. I fell short. I think that race will provide a lot of motivation for the next year…. There is lots of frustration going through my head.“Phelps has one last event, the 100-meter butterfly, left in Shanghai. Thus far, he has earned one gold medal, two silvers and one bronze while losing to Lochte in two of their three head-to-head events.
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