Ryan Lochte is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. He competed at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
At his Olympic debut in 2004, Lochte claimed his first individual medal with a silver in the 200 metres individual medley (1:58.78), trailing the winner and world record holder Michael Phelps by more than a full second. He also helped the U.S. men's team of Phelps, Klete Keller, and Peter Vanderkaay put together a blazing finish to reclaim their title with an American record time (7:07.33) over the Australians in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.
Four years later in Beijing, he finished third behind Phelps and László Cseh in the medley double (200 and 400). He overthrew the defending champion Aaron Peirsol at the final lap to snatch his first individual gold in the 200 metres backstroke with a world record time (1:53.94). He continued his victory streak by helping the U.S. men's team of Phelps, Vanderkaay, and Ricky Berens clear the seven-minute mark for a new world record (6:58.56) and their title defense in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.
At his third Games in 2012, Lochte started brightly with another gold in the 400 metres individual medley. He secured a silver as an anchor swimmer of the U.S. men's team in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, losing to the French team by a full second. He helped the Americans dominate the race from the start to defend the men's 4x200 metres freestyle relay title. On the sixth night of the Games, Lochte swam his last two finals with 30 minutes in between. First, he won the bronze in the 200 metres backstroke, trailing the winner and his teammate Tyler Clary and runner-up Ryosuke Irie by more than half a second. Half an hour later, he produced his eleventh career medal with a silver in the 200 metres individual medley, trailing Phelps by over half a second and tying an all-time record with Mark Spitz and Matthew Biondi.
At his fourth straight Games in 2016, Lochte teamed with Phelps, Conor Dwyer, and Townley Haas to win their seventeenth Olympic gold in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay. He also joined Phelps as the only swimmers to reach the top eight finals of the 200 metres individual medley for the fourth straight time, but he slipped off the podium to fifth.
Along with Natalie Coughlin, Jenny Thompson, and Dara Torres, he was named the second most decorated swimmer in history, measured by the total number of medals, behind Phelps. Lochte's record of seven individual medals also ranked second overall in men's Olympic swimming history.
Olympic Results[]
Year | Event | Rank |
---|---|---|
2004 | Men's 200m individual medley | |
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay | ||
2008 | Men's 200m backstroke | |
Men's 200m individual medley | ||
Men's 400m individual medley | ||
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay | ||
2012 | Men's 200m freestyle | 4th |
Men's 200m backstroke | ||
Men's 200m individual medley | ||
Men's 400m individual medley | ||
Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | ||
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay | ||
2016 | Men's 200m individual medley | 5th |
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay |
2004[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
200 metres individual medley | Heats | 2:01.41 | |
Semifinal | 1:59.58 | ||
Final | 1:58.78 | ||
4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:12.80 (1:47.39 split) |
|
Final | 7:07.33 (1:47.52 split) |
AR |
2008[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
200 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:56.29 | |
Semifinal | 1:55.40 | ||
Final | 1:53.94 | WR | |
200 metres individual medley | Heats | 1:58.15 | |
Semifinal | 1:57.69 | ||
Final | 1:56.53 | ||
400 metres individual medley | Heats | 4:10.33 | |
Final | 4:08.09 | ||
4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:04.66 (Reserve) |
OR |
Final | 6:58.56 (1:44.28 split) |
WR |
2012[]
Discipline | Round | Time |
---|---|---|
200 metres freestyle | Heats | 1:46.45 |
Semifinal | 1:46.31 | |
Final | 1:45.04 | |
200 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:56.36 |
Semifinal | 1:55.40 | |
Final | 1:53.94 | |
200 metres individual medley | Heats | 1:58.03 |
Semifinal | 1:56.13 | |
Final | 1:54.90 | |
400 metres individual medley | Heats | 4:12.35 |
Final | 4:05.18 | |
4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:12.59 (Reserve) |
Final | 3:10.38 (47.74 split) | |
4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:06.75 (Reserve) |
Final | 6:59.70 (1:45.15 split) |
2016[]
Discipline | Round | Time |
---|---|---|
200 metres individual medley | Heats | 1:57.38 |
Semifinal | 1:56.28 | |
Final | 1:57.47 | |
4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:06.74 (Reserve) |
Final | 7:00.66 (1:46.03 split) |