We’re counting down the top 10 moments of Michael Phelps’ career, so far. You, our readers, can participate, by voting for number one! Either Tweet or Comment on our Facebook with #phelpstop10lezaked if your number one is the improbable 400 free relay come-from-behind victory in Beijing is your top Phelps moment. Tweet or Facebook #phelpstop10cavic if your favorite is the almost unseeable 100 fly win over Milorad Cavic in Beijing, or Tweet/Comment #phelpstop108golds if your pick is the 400 medley relay, which ran Phelps into the history books as his 8th gold medal.
#9 – Phelps Tops Lochte in 200 IM, Becomes First Man to Three-Peat in Same Event
To really understand how big this event was for Michael Phelps, we have to rewind back to 2010. At this point, there’s no secret that after the 2008 Summer Olympics that Michael Phelps took a step away from the pool, wasn’t as hyper-focused as he had been. He didn’t retire, and he continued competing, but it was certainly a bit of a respite from the hyper-focus that it took to win those 8 gold medals.
This 200 IM, though, showed just how amazing Phelps was in his ability to just zero in on a goal and go for the goal. Lochte was by all measures locked-in in London, having run away with the 400 IM title on the meet’s first day. After Phelps won this race at the Olympic Trials over Lochte by just a tenth, it was far from any locked-up result for MP.
But in the Olympic final in London, Phelps won by what was somewhat of a statement-sending 1:54.27, a win by .63 seconds over the silver-medalist Lochte.
This one would go down as Phelps’ 16th gold medal and 20th medal overall.
See Also
#10 – Phelps Becomes the Youngest Male Swimmer to Break a World Record.
Race video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTbbnhnnMQU
In my interpretation of Phelp’s career, I sort of see late 2009-early 2011 as a sort of first retirement analogous to Michael Jordan’s retirement for baseball. Both quit at the top of their game, started back up with a lot of work to do and proved they can do it again.
This second comeback I see more like Michael Jordan with the Wizards, when he came back because he couldn’t stay away from basketball and wanted to help the team. Perhaps Phelps can’t stay away from the pool and certainly he wants to power the American relays to golds again.
With Phelps in London 2012, USA won silver in 4×100 free, golds in 4×200 free and 4×100 medley.
Without Phelps in Barcelona 2013, USA won silver in 4×200 free and gold 4×200 and would have decidedly won gold in 4×100 medley if not for Cordes’ DQ.
No difference actually.
I meant “Without Phelps in Barcelona 2013, USA won silver in 4×100 free….
With a just faster Feigen , they had the gold in the 400 free relay ; that’s for sure too . They will catch that gold pretty soon they are chasing since 2009 .
” Lochte was by all measures locked-in in London, having run away with the 400 IM title on the meet’s first day.”
NOT REALLY.
As far back as the US trials, I already made prediction in this website that Lochte would lose the 200 IM due to it being scheduled in the same night as 200 back.
Here:
http://swimswam.com/day-6-finals-michael-vs-ryan-in-200-im-recap-live/
ASWIMFAN
June 30, 2012 at 5:51 pm
The birithday got his present. Happy Birthday!
it seems Lochte was affected by the 200 back final earlier on.
As I predicted few days ago, Phelps wins 200 IM just because Lochte has 200 back 20 mins before.
This will be repeated even more… Read more »
Oh my God! You’re like Carnac! How, just how are you so great at predictions!?
I really think lochte would’ve won if he wouldn’t have swam the 200 back and just focused on the 200 IM.
Maybe so, I’m sure he no legs left and that could account for .63 difference. But that’s historically not been Lochte’s style. And not Phelps either. They’ve both just gone for it. Though this time around they will both have to make concessions to age.
I totally agree with your statement
nah, i dont think so.
wish to see them in the 2 im race one more time
Lochte might not have to choose to drop the 200 back. I think that, this time around, there’s a good chance he won’t be top 2 at trials, with Murphy/Conger/Clary etc.
Either way, I agree that he’s better off focusing on going a 1:53 in the IM.
This one would go down as “Lochte’s” 16th gold medal and 20th medal overall.
Phelps not lochte