LONDON – Michael Phelps bit his lip on the victory stand as the anthem played, his eyes full. They called him an automaton when he couldn't lose in Beijing. Here, he's a sentimental fool.
By Andrew P. Scott, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps, right, won his 20th career Olympic medal in the 200-meter IM, while Ryan Lochte won his 11th.
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"I have let myself shed a tear now and then," Phelps allowed of his Goodbye Games.
Phelps beat rival Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night, the first time any man has won an individual swimming event at three consecutive Games.
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"Cool to add to my resume," he said, a satisfied smile suggesting this was more than mere grace note. The man who has made so much history clearly craved even more.
His rivalry with Lochte was a drumbeat leading up to these Games. Lochte said to all who would listen that this was his time. And he made good on the first night of the Olympic meet, winning gold as Phelps came fourth, missing a medal, showing his age.
But Thursday the rivalry fizzled a bit. Lochte came third to teammate Tyler Clary in the 200 back, his signature event, roughly half an hour before his rematch with Phelps. And Phelps led wire to wire in the 200 IM, with Lochte second.
When it was done, Phelps hung on the lane marker. He didn't pound the water in celebration, as of old. Was he tired, or just respectful of his rival? Phelps, 27, reached out to Lochte and they clasped hands. That was it. They'll never race again.
Lochte, who turns 28 Friday, said he's going on to Rio in 2016. Phelps reiterated what he's said all along: He'll never race competitively after London. No club races, no senior races. Maybe he'd have a match race with Bubba Watson, the golfer who texted that Phelps can't play golf, but that's all.
Asked to rate his performance in London, Lochte responded, "a little above average." That's a far cry from what he'd wanted.
"Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't," Lochte said. "But overall, I can't be too disappointed. I am coming home to my country with five Olympic medals."
Reporters asked gently what might have gone wrong. Pressure? Fatigue? No, he said, it wasn't that. Maybe he just got too excited in the Olympic moment and went out too fast in some of his races.
"I know that some of my problems in some of my races were going out faster than I usually do, so it kind of hurt me because I'm not a sprinter," he said. "I'm like a mid-distance swimmer."
Phelps used Lochte's difficult double — 200 back and 200 IM finals in the same night — to his competitive advantage.
"I kind of wanted to push the first 100 as much as I could," Phelps said, "just to kind of see what would happen." What happened is that Phelps took a lead he'd never give up.
"I've been putting in that extra work so I can do those doubles," Lochte said. "I'm not going to change that. I love racing. That's why I swim. I'm going to keep doing those crucial doubles no matter how bad it hurts."
Phelps hurt, too. He said his legs were killing him. The automaton feels pain. And he feels the end coming.
Each day this week, he said, he's been keeping track of his lasts — last prelims, last semis, last race against an old rival.
In the ready room, before the 200 IM, Phelps and Lochte did not wear game faces.
"We were just joking around, kind of laughing about it," Phelps said of their showdown.
It was the same when they appeared together at a news conference after the race, where they acted more like the Sunshine Boys than competitors, laughing at each other's jokes.
Was it true Lochte ate McDonald's at every meal in Beijing? Yes, Lochte said. Phelps said, yeah, he'd seen it, and they both laughed.
Lochte said he doesn't eat junk food anymore, but he'd have some McDonald's tonight. They both laughed some more.
Lochte arrived to the news conference before Phelps and was allowed to leave sooner.
"Why does he get to leave?" Phelps mock complained. "He's done."
Lochte's Olympics are over. Phelps has the 100 butterfly tonight and the 4 x 100 medley relay on Saturday.
His Goodbye Games started badly with that loss to Lochte on opening night but they have gone swimmingly since: four races, two gold, two silver.
Lochte's silver and bronze Thursday brought his career total to 11. Only Phelps has more among American men.
Phelps now owns 20 Olympic medals, 16 of them gold.
"He made history," Lochte said.
Lochte, who lives in Florida, will look for a change of scenery post-Games. "I'm getting older, and I think it's time for me to move on … start a new life."
He's thinking California, possibly Los Angeles. Why L.A?
"I like to sleep in the cold," he said. "In California, it gets cold at night but it's hot in the day. And I have to be by an ocean so I can keep surfing. So why not L.A.?"
Post-race, before the news conference, Phelps called Lochte one of the toughest competitors he ever faced in his remarkable career. Asked about that by reporters, Lochte flashed a lopsided grin. "Thanks," he said. He hadn't won gold. Respect would have to do.
Lochte said he'll have to find another rival now. Phelps offered a candidate: South Africa's Chad le Clos, who edged Phelps in the 200 butterfly.
What will Lochte's favorite memory of these Games be?
"The 400 IM," he said. "Getting that gold. It was the first race, the first day of the Olympics. Getting it off right for Team USA. That definitely was one of the greatest feelings."
It was also the night he beat his rival at the Olympics, when all things seemed possible.
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