Ryan Lochte Shares The Story Behind “The Lochte Rule”

Thanks to presenting partner SPIRE Academy, a scholastic boarding school where individuals: excel academically, master life’s necessary personal skills, experience tomorrow’s emerging career opportunities and exceed expectations in their sport or other passion specialization.

At the 2015 World Championships, Ryan Lochte and his coach, David Marsh, thought so far outside of the box that FINA made a rule about it and named it after the 4x 200 IM world champ. Listen to how the 12x Olympic Medalist and SPIRE Ambassador developed a race strategy that would put him well ahead of the field in the 200m IM.

See Ryan Lochte win his 4th consecutive world title in the 200 IM and subsequently change the rules of the race aka create “The Lochte Rule”.

We went to a very special practice in Geneva, Ohio: a SPIRE Academy Swim Camp featuring SPIRE Ambassador Ryan Lochte.  See it the PRACTICE + PANCAKES with Lochte here.

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Falcon
2 years ago

My daughter got DQed at the 2016 Olympic Trials for the Lochte rule. Her and 8 other women in her lane before the Stroke and Turn judge was replaced. She swam with Lochte a couple years later at UF after he returned. Shared a lane many days. Said he was the nicest guy you will ever meet.

Mike
Reply to  Falcon
2 years ago

I very much doubt they “replaced” both the turn and stroke judges. You do realise officials are rostered to different positions each today?

Tea rex
2 years ago

I appreciate the innovation, and FiNA sucks for quashing it, but I don’t know if it really was faster. Saw him do it on 200 free – looked like it was a little faster through 10m, but then his breakout was slower as he rotated 180 degrees while getting to the surface

RobB
2 years ago

What took Lochte so long to use this in the 2 IM?? If he went 21.6 on his back in 2008 surely he should have pulled the trick out of the bag for either Beijing or London and claimed the elusive Olympic gold in the event. His 1:54.0 WR would also be more like 1:53 low.

Horninco
Reply to  RobB
2 years ago

He is absolutely embellishing that just based on the 2IM from 2015 worlds

He turns even with Tiago and comes up maybe a foot or so ahead. He does create half a body by the midway point of the free but he is a much stronger free swimmer than Thiago

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Horninco
2 years ago

Every story like this is embellished because people are suckers for it. The topic doesn’t even matter as long as it’s up, up and away from any norm.

Ferb
2 years ago

Holy crap, 21.8 LCM kicking underwater from a push, in a practice suit? Even with an allowance for hand timing, that would have been like 3rd at the recent Worlds trials in the 50 free.

dlswim
Reply to  Ferb
2 years ago

I don’t believe it.

Swammer
Reply to  Ferb
2 years ago

There’s video evidence of a 22 that was probably mid season. 21 when rested makes total sense.

The Original Tim
Reply to  Ferb
2 years ago

Hill Taylor was a suited 23ish back in 2008, and if remember correctly from watching him back in the day, I *think* Lochte had better underwaters.

If Lochte was rested and it was hand timed, I don’t think 21.8 is out of the question.

If we could arrange a head to head matchup between all of them in their primes, I’d like to see Phelps, Lochte, Shields, and Dressel in a 50 LCM underwater kick.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Original Tim
2 years ago

I’m wondering how much he Embellishes his stories. The 21.8 I think we would have heard of and the story about being recruited to swim and play basketball at OSU seem sus.

Walter
Reply to  [email protected]
2 years ago

Do we not know the answer to this question?

Seeking Truth
2 years ago

Check out the rule book before and after. Was there a rule change? Or was it just their interpretation of the rule?

Mike
Reply to  Seeking Truth
2 years ago

Definitely a rule change: SW 9.2 In Freestyle the swimmer must be on the breast except when executing a turn. The swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke.

Horninco
2 years ago

But dolphin kicks on breast breakouts still ok?

Rap
Reply to  Horninco
2 years ago

Thats how you know Kitajima is the OG. They changed the rules for him.

swimmer
2 years ago

imagine what the times would be if that rule had never been put in place

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

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