Ryan Lochte, 12-time Olympic medalist, was back in action at 33 years old at the U.S. Open. His performance was ok. He’s just getting back into the pain. We’ll call this his grace period. His 100m back was 55.16, and in 200 IM he turned in a 1:59.24. Rumors circulated that Lochte had not been doing that much training, which he confirmed. He said he’s only been in the pool once or twice per week.
Well into his 30s, can Lochte make a serious run at the elite level this quad? I think so. After his Rio appearance and after the birth of his son, Caiden, Lochte says he has a new fire burning. Based on the reaction at the U.S. Open, he has a lot of fan support as well.
What do you think? If Lochte can make his mark, what events offer the best window of opportunity and what times does he need to put on the board?
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
I am not seeing much chance of him returning to a top 10 time in the world. LA is not the place for a young family. Traffic and high rent along with the stress of a first child. I don’t see this going very far.
U sure are an optimist lol
If he starts to physically look like the 2011 and 2012 Ryan Lochte, then you’ll know he’s been training.
He was at his most muscular and low-body fat then. He’s got a little muffin-top around his waist going on right now.
I think in order to get back to the shape he wants to be in he needs heavy training under Flordia again, in order to get back he HAS to work, especially at the age he is now (33), Dressel appears to be his only challenge in American swimming, but Devine is dangerous with his 1:56.
Kalisz looks to be the go to 200 IMer. 2 1:55s at worlds and rapidly improving. Lochte will struggle to make a major team. Is doable, but I don’t think it’ll happen
Who is going to coach Lochte for the next 3 years? Dave Salo? Jon Urbanchek? Does he go to San Diego and train with David Marsh? I think who coaches him will make a huge difference in how he performs, and if he will make the team in 2020. Lochte seems to do better with a coach who rules him with a bit of an iron fist and doesn’t expect him to manage his own training. He probably should move back to Florida and train with Gregg Troy, but there is no glamour in that move.
I believe he has been training with Trojan Swim Club, and LA seems like the ideal place for his fiance’s occupation, so my guess is he stays in LA with Dave Salo. Should be interesting. Salo has had some success with breaststrokers and sprint/mid-distance freestylers, so if Lochte gets his butt in the water on a consistent basis, I think he’ll have a very strong shot at making the team in 2020.
Kris (and Swimmer?, below), it looks like he is moving back to Florida…(this information courtesy of The Wolverine)
https://instagram.com/p/BX2ti5DHltk/
@Col. Trautman – You tell that mean ocean!
He’s got a decent shot at 200IM individual and 800free relay, like last time. Probably nothing else. But second place for the 2IM in 2020 Olympic trials could be as slow as 1:56. And I think lochte can do that, even at such old age. He is a master at that race. 200 free spots are harder to predict but it is possible that he might be able to do it. Regardless, he could definitely make SCM world teams in multiple events and have a big impact.
stop stop stop stop
Tryna predict times for 2020 is bonkers. How many people had somebody goin’ under 50 in the 100 fly this year?
Lochte was clearly out of shape at the US Open and still managed a 1:59. I believe if he gets back to some serious training he can be 1:55 which puts him in the thick of things.
Seem reasonable. Agreed!
Nope. A 4 second adjustment is too much at his age. He won’t see 1:55 again
I wouldn’t say it’s too much when he’s only training one day a week
Why doesn’t Mel do any predictions anymore?
I did all summer… Not going to in Aug, after competition for the season is over
…and my predictions on Dressel were off, way off. Need to dive deep on data before the NCAA season starts…
Hey Mel don’t be to hard on yourself. No one could’ve predicted Dressel. I’m more impressed with your Simone time and place in the 100 free being spot on!
That was pure luck. (I’m still in awe of Sjostrom’s 51.7.)
…I thought Dressel just making the final, maybe shaving a tenth or two off his Indy time would’ve been great. I saw him at 49.9/50.0 in 2020 if training went extremely well… So, yeah, way off. But hey, I love being wrong when swimmers swim faster than expected… The bar is so high now….
I think we were all off on that. How many times have we ever seen such a surge in a single year for a guy? Phelps 06 to 07 maybe.
Well Phelps was dropping tons in 200s, when Dressel dropped almost/more in 100s
I predicted Dressel going 50.3 in June i think…