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Full Ryan Lochte Post-200 IM Press Conference (Video)

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by Torrey Hart.

Five-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte swum his first official race since June 3, 2018, at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships in Palo Alto, California, Wednesday morning.

He went 1:57.88 in a 200 IM time trial – official splits have yet to be posted. Lochte’s best time since Rio before Wednesday was 1:58.90, and his world record from 2011 sits at 1:54.00. His swim qualifies him for 2020 Olympic Trials; he’s also entered to swim the event on Sunday.

Lochte is also entered in the 100 fly, 100 back, 200 free and 400 IM this week.

The nearly-35-year-old did not strictly need to swim at Nationals to get back on the United States’ 2019-2020 National Team, and receive the funding that comes with it. Lochte just has to be in the top six American swimmers, based on FINA world rankings, in an individual Olympic event – from the combined results of USA Swimming or FINA sanctioned meets – with his qualifying swims occurring on or before August 25. Note that time trials do not count toward making the team, but that his time from Wednesday would rank him as the No. 4 man in the nation behind Chase Kalisz and Michael Andrew this season.

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CollegeSwammer
5 years ago

2019 Lochte reminds me a lot of 2015 Phelps. Happy, relaxed, having fun. This is probably the best interview I’ve ever seen him do. Happy to see him happy and hoping the best for this week and this next year.

Leavingonthetop
Reply to  CollegeSwammer
5 years ago

Definitely agree with this comment. He’s happy and I can tell there is a personality change for better. Answering interview questions, not so much. Lol I am pulling for him to make Tokyo.

Ice Age Swimmer
5 years ago

The 2nd video especially made me verklempt. GO RYAN!!!!!!

Ervin
5 years ago

I totally forgot about the Newport beach incident and rehab thing

ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

I love the guy who went 47 something and got caught by a super speedy Agnel in London ….it took serious grit to accept that delicate anchor position . One of the best racers of these last 15 years . He is preparing for his 5th Olympics ….& can surely pull a silver or even Gold in the 200 IM & super fast relay split in the 800 free relay . Kuddos to the mint Matured happy Ryan to be back .

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

47.7. After two 400 IMs and two 200 frees. Unreal racer across all courses — SCY, SCM, LCM. Hope he goes out on top.

MKW
5 years ago

First off, great to hear Ryan is in a good spot mentally and physically, awesome that he’s so candid about some recent set backs. Getting MP like vibes about how he’s matured… having a kid really put things in perspective.

Impressive swim considering how long hes been out. In Troy we trust.

Sweem
5 years ago

His left arm is very swollen. It’s double the size of his right arm.

Cate
Reply to  Sweem
5 years ago

Huh?

Andysup
Reply to  Sweem
5 years ago

That’s a dad arm

Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Wait til you hear the Rio gas station story.

Ol’ Gator
5 years ago

It’s just amazing and like awesome to see the kind of just like really cool adjectives that Ryan uses

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