Ryan Lochte

Swimming, one of the most popular sports throughout the world has earned a prestigious position in the list of Olympic events, that contains some world famous swimmers. With Michael Phelps winning his eighth gold at the Olympics, swimming has received greater impetus. Ryan Lochte, one of the talented swimmers of America, who is next in order, to Phelps in the total medal count, is a record maker and a record breaker. Let us take a look at his life and career.

Born on August 3, 1984, Ryan Lochte is an American swimmer, who has made several world records and made the world proud of him. He was born in Canandaigua, New York. Ryan was a student of the Spruce Creek High School in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida. During his college years, he participated in the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships of 2006. Ryan Lochte won titles in all three individual events. This victory of Lochte was indeed record-setting, as he made a record in the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley. Tom Dolan is a swimmer of United States, a gold and silver medal winner of the 2000 Summer Olympics and the gold medal winner of the 1996 summer Olympics. He held the world record in 400m individual medley for around eight years. Lochte accomplished the feat of breaking Tom Dolan's record in 400-yard individual medley. He emerged victorious in the 4x100 yard medley relay and made a US Open and American record in 100-yard backstroke. During his senior year at college, Ryan Lochte won the title of swimmer of the meet.

The international career of Ryan Lochte began with a 200m individual medley at the Olympics. He qualified for the 4x200m freestyle relay team. He secured the second position in the 200m individual medley and won the silver medal, where he stood second to Phelps. The FINA Short Course World Championships of 2004 held in Indianapolis brought Lochte, a silver medal in the 200m individual medley, a bronze medal in freestyle and a gold in 4x200 freestyle relay.

The 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships followed the NCAA Championships, two weeks later. During this sport event, Ryan Lochte won the same titles, which he had won at the NCAA championships. He set world records by winning the 200m backstroke and the 200m individual medley. Lochte was the first swimmer to complete a distance of 100m in 50 seconds. He made a new American record by winning the gold in the 400m individual medley. FINA honored Ryan Lochte by naming him the male swimmer of the meet.

In 2005, World Aquatics Championships were held in Montreal, Canada. This was when Ryan Lochte won the bronze medals in 200m backstroke and individual medley and a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The relay team earned a gold, thus setting an American record.

In 2007, the World Aquatics Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia. During this event, Lochte won the gold medal in the long course event, setting a world record for this event. He won the gold in the long course world championship in the 200m backstroke, thus breaking the record of Aaron Peirsol, an Olympic-level swimmer renowned for winning gold medals in the backstroke at Athens. With Klete Keller, Peter Vanderkaay and Michael Phelps, Lochte made a world record in the 4x200 freestyle relay. He acquired silver medals in 100m backstroke, the 200m individual medley as also the 400m individual medley. This achievement placed his name second to Phelps in the total medal count. After the world championships, Lochte took part in the annual Mutual of Omaha Duel where he beat Piersol breaking his record in the 100m backstroke.

On June 29, 2008, both Ryan Lochte and Phelps broke the world record at the Olympic trials. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Lochte won the bronze medal in the 400m IM event. On August 14, 2008, he acquired the gold medal in the 200m backstroke.

The United States looks forward to more from this talented swimmer, Ryan Lochte.