Ryan Lochte will be swimming potentially seven events at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain:Â 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 4×200 freestyle relay, 4×100 freestyle relay, and (at this point) butterfly on the prelim 4×100 medley relay.
After dedicating a lot of time this sesason to his reality show, What Would Ryan Lochte Do, the diversion in Hollywood appears to have had little effect on Lochte’s success in the pool. By the numbers, Lochte dominated the men’s side of swimming at US World Trials. True, he’s not in 2012 Olympic shape, but he’s not far off either.
Lochte will have tough competition at FINA Worlds, something he confessed he was concerned about.  From Japan, Ryosuke Irie in the 200 backstroke and Kosuke Hagino in the 200 IM will challenge the 11-time Olympic medalist. France’s Yannick Agnel and Russia’s Danila Izotov will challenge him in the 200 freestyle, which Lochte won at the 2011 World Championships in 1:44.44. (Izotov clocked a 1:44.87 on the leadoff of the World University Games 4×200 free relay.)
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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 co-founder of swimswam.com.
I have just realized Mr Lochte has a crazy day 6 evening session in Barcelona.
200 back final
100 fly semi-final
4X200 free relay
Not good for the US 4X200 relay. Ryan will be killed. It’s now or never for France.
BOBO…Yannick is a question mark…. How do you think he’ll do?
Absolutely no idea about Yannick. I think almost nobody knows what he will do. I bet on a good Agnel, not a great, around 1.44.50. Enough to win the 200 free gold medal.
1:44:50 might not be enough if Izotov steps up of what was expected from him from years ago..
Izotov has to hold his taper a long time. That’s challenging…unless he “needs” more rest and wows the world.
I’m skeptical Izotov will be able to duplicate that time. I will be surprised if he does.
I agree.
I meant I agree with Mel and Philip. It will be hard for the Russians to hold taper that long, unless they were not tapered in Kazan, which would be hard to believe
I think his huge base will serve him well at Worlds, and with the extra weeks to come down after Nationals, he should be faster across the board, particularly in leg-driven events like the 200 back and 100 fly now that he’s had some more time off weights.
Just looked up the textile record for the 100m fly. Was a bit surprised to see it held by Ian Crocker (50.40), I remember it now but forgot it at the time. It’s very impressive that that mark hasn’t been beaten yet and probably won’t be for some time, despite intense competition in that event.
BOURDAIS – that stat always surprises everyone. Crocker’s a great guy with a great point of view on the swimming lifestyle….and he lives less than a 2 minutes drive from my house.
Say hello to Ian and tell him we miss him and not to get fat (too much!). 🙂
That time is like Bob Beamon’s long jump – once in a lifetime result, something even Ian Crocker himself wasn’t able to repeat.
While it was his best time, I wouldn’t call it a once in a lifetime result, as crocker was the first under 51, and was able to repeat that multiple times, going as fast as 50.7 as his 2nd best performance. I think that in his career he has proven himself to be one of (if not THE) best 100 flyers in history. His only issue was that he struggled with big meets and sometimes let his head get in the way of his performances. I think if he would have had his head on straight in 07-08 he would’ve beat phelps in Beijing in something around 50.1. Maybe he wouldn’t have retired and swam in 09 with a rubber… Read more »
Crocker may be the fastest 100 flyer in history, but the best 100 flyer?
I think not.
Phelps has that one –> 3 straight olympics golds sealed that title for him.
It is undeniable that Crocker is a huge talent, but the best swimmer does not rely on talent alone.
Lochte is cheeky. So he always knew what events he was going to swim and still put his name in so many events only to withdraw.
My guess as to how he does next week:
100m FLY 51.4
200m Free 1:45.1 (he went 1:44.44 at his best…1:45.04 last year…lucky to see 1:45.1 in 2013 )
200m IM 1:55.2 (1:54.9 in London, unlikely even with it being his first event he goes 1:54.xx)
200m Back 1:54.5 (1:53.94 in London, but will be his first final on Friday)
Other than the IM I don’t think any of those times will get the gold. He’ll be better next year, but not bad considering his training.
Lochte will win 200 IM.
Lochte will easily win the 200 IM and can also win the 200 back but it will be much harder. No chance in the 200 free and in the 100 fly.
200 IM agreed..
200 back with the fly and relay on the same day.. hardly.. And Ryosuke probably really wants to prove that even withouth being the strongest his flawless tech can grab him gold..
For a self proclaimed non-fan of Lochte, you sure do know a lot about him. The haters are usually the most obsessed.