Lochte believes Great Britain are a growing force in world swimming
A little more of Ryan's take on Great Britain's rising swimmers.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Ryan Lochte believes Great Britain are a growing force in world swimming
Lochte believes Great Britain are a growing force in world swimming
AMERICAN Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte believes Great Britain are an improving force within world swimming.
Posted: Thursday 29th October 2009 | 16:18
Lochte, a three-time Olympic champion and a seven-time world champion, has been named in the 36-strong American squad for the inaugural Duel in the Pool between the USA and a Europe select team.
Competing for Europe will be fellow Florida-based athlete Gemma Spofforth of Great Britain, who claimed 100m backstroke gold at August's World Championships, one of seven British medals in Rome.
The USA topped the medal table with ten gold medals and 22 in total, while Australia - America's perennial swimming rival - claimed the next largest number with 16.
At the 2008 Olympics it was a similar case with the USA and Australia being the dominant forces but Lochte is convinced there global hierarchy is not so clear-cut anymore.
"The Duel in the Pool is going to be tough," said Lochte, who won four gold medals at the 2008 World Short Course Championships in Manchester. "There are a lot more teams developing and it's not just the USA and Australia anymore.
"Great Britain have swimmers like Gemma and they're definitely coming up and Duel in the Pool should be a lot of fun.
"To go back to Manchester is going to be a great feeling but I just hope it's not going to be so cold."
At the Beijing Olympics, Lochte had to settle for bronze in both the 200m and the 400m individual medleys as Michael Phelps collected just two of his eight gold medals in the Water Cube.
It was a different story at August's World Championships as Lochte topped the podium in both events while Phelps opted to concentrate on fewer races.
But Lochte has admitted he would Phelps back to medley competition with open arms.
"I was upset and disappointed that he didn't do the medleys in Rome," added Lochte. "I love a challenge. Hopefully he will swim it again in the near future and if he does I'll be ready for it."
[ source ]
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Ryan Lochte believes Great Britain are a growing force in world swimming
Lochte believes Great Britain are a growing force in world swimming
AMERICAN Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte believes Great Britain are an improving force within world swimming.
Posted: Thursday 29th October 2009 | 16:18
Lochte, a three-time Olympic champion and a seven-time world champion, has been named in the 36-strong American squad for the inaugural Duel in the Pool between the USA and a Europe select team.
Competing for Europe will be fellow Florida-based athlete Gemma Spofforth of Great Britain, who claimed 100m backstroke gold at August's World Championships, one of seven British medals in Rome.
The USA topped the medal table with ten gold medals and 22 in total, while Australia - America's perennial swimming rival - claimed the next largest number with 16.
At the 2008 Olympics it was a similar case with the USA and Australia being the dominant forces but Lochte is convinced there global hierarchy is not so clear-cut anymore.
"The Duel in the Pool is going to be tough," said Lochte, who won four gold medals at the 2008 World Short Course Championships in Manchester. "There are a lot more teams developing and it's not just the USA and Australia anymore.
"Great Britain have swimmers like Gemma and they're definitely coming up and Duel in the Pool should be a lot of fun.
"To go back to Manchester is going to be a great feeling but I just hope it's not going to be so cold."
At the Beijing Olympics, Lochte had to settle for bronze in both the 200m and the 400m individual medleys as Michael Phelps collected just two of his eight gold medals in the Water Cube.
It was a different story at August's World Championships as Lochte topped the podium in both events while Phelps opted to concentrate on fewer races.
But Lochte has admitted he would Phelps back to medley competition with open arms.
"I was upset and disappointed that he didn't do the medleys in Rome," added Lochte. "I love a challenge. Hopefully he will swim it again in the near future and if he does I'll be ready for it."
[ source ]