Ryan Lochte Says Michael Phelps will Return for 2016 Rio Olympics

According to the Telegraph, 11-time Olympic medalist, Ryan Lochte, says 22-time Olympic medalist, Michael Phelps, will return to competition by the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

”Michael Phelps says he’s retired. The sport will miss him, he is one of my favourite rivals and I will miss him. But I think he will come back,” Lochte said. ”When you do something for so long every day … he’s still young. I think he will be back for Rio,” Lochte added. ”We’ll see, he’ll miss the sport.”

Phelps has been adamant he’s done, despite several close swimming peers predicting he’ll come back. Many of these Olympic brothers and sister haven’t gone on the record. They’ve shared their opinions in private, at the fall parties and numerous awards shows following the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Other Olympians have gone on the record, publically, like Dara Torres. After she barely missed making the 2012 Olympic Team, she tweeted Phelps wouldn’t stay retired, and asked her followers, “anyone care to wager?” Phelps replied that he would take that bet. 

Anthony Ervin, who, like Torres, came out of retirement, tweeted, if Phelps doesn’t come back, “I’ll eat my fins.”

Bottom-line, Lochte’s far from alone in his opinion.

Something many Olympians know — and many fans understand — is that most athletes suffer retirement blues. This is a fact, no matter how successful an athlete has been. In retirement they go through a period of depression. Adjusting to normal life is not easy. The struggle is physical and chemical. Your body changes dramatically when you stop training 10 to 15 sessions per week. The daily “high” from pushing yourself to the extreme is not something you expect to suffer withdrawal from, but you do. Moreover, the singular goal of reaching a personal best time is replaced by slightly “fuzzier” goals (though just as important), like career milestones, simply staying healthy, and giving back to your family and community.

Phelps appears to be on the right path to make a smooth transition into his post Olympic life, feeding his competitive spirit with golf, focusing on his Foundation to giveback to the sport he loves. It appears he’s given retirement a great deal of thought. It appears he’s following a plan.

What keeps everyone guessing, and hoping Phelps will return, is his age. Phelps is still young. No one doubts for a split-second he could add more Olympic hardware to his 22 medal haul in Rio. Then again…no one else in the world has experienced winning so much, and 22 medals may be more than enough for the greatest Olympian of all-time.

Stay tuned…

Ryan Lochte is presently at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Turkey. On day one of prelims he qualifed first in the 200 scm freestyle with a 1:42.41, and first the 100 scm butterfly with a 50.16. 

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LL
11 years ago

While most everyone would like to see Michael make a “comeback”, he won’t be back. There isn’t even a remote chance. Michael needs to live his life. Swimming for as long as he has without even taking Christmas off, most of the years, is just too much and clearly takes a toll.

Wish Michael well and let him move on…

MURP
11 years ago

MICHAEL PHELPS COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bobo gigi
11 years ago

Of course if he wanted he would win the 100 fly and 1 or 2 relays in 2016. But would it be useful? He has retired on a superb note with great olympic games and with a win in a relay. What can he expect more? I don’t see.

swimfan25
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

He’s silly if he tries to come back. Retire on top….what else does he have to prove. I love Natalie Couglin but she went 1 too many Olympics too. I would like to remember Michael being on top…he is the face swimming. Stop while you are ahead!

bobo gigi
Reply to  swimfan25
11 years ago

Totally agree with you! Like Pete Sampras after his US Open win at home in 2002. Michael has retired when he was on top and it’s good like that.

User1
11 years ago

Dara, Get a life!

swamswim
11 years ago

It would be great to see him back as an NBC color analyst – he is an expert and has good poise in front of the mic….

PsychoDad
Reply to  swamswim
11 years ago

I don’t think Michael is stupid to come back and swim at Rio. Why? He does not need that attention – he will get the same attention even if he just shows up there. What does he need to prove? The sexy one however, will be swimming at Rio – his inferiority complex is still riding high.

swimfan25
Reply to  PsychoDad
11 years ago

He is driving me nuts….I think you hit the nail on the head with the inferiority complex. He obviously craves the attention.

liquidassets
Reply to  swimfan25
11 years ago

Re: “inferiority complex”: Maybe. Take a look at what he’s been dealing with in terms of family stressors the last couple years and you can maybe see a suggestion of some of the other, earlier roots of that.

But that alone wouldn’t be enough motivation to explain his current performance. At this point he’s still winning international golds and setting world records, so even though it’s “only” SCM, he’s obviously nowhere near as burned out as Phelps was after ’08, because he didn’t, and still doesn’t, have Phelps schedule. He is likely somewhat disappointed with is London performance and sees potential for improvement in times and places. The challenge will be to keep that going for 4 more years.… Read more »

Rafael
Reply to  PsychoDad
11 years ago

The “sexy” one in his call for attention might have HUGE problems for gold medaling in Rio.

He might not be able to pass even the OT on 100 back.. He will have a hard time on 200 with Clary and Irie.

If he tries Fly.. Le Clos will probably beat him

On 200 Free he by no means can beat Agnel and Yang..
On 400 IM Hagino will be pretty much a beast on 2016.

His best bets would be the 200 IM and 4×100 medley.. even on medley if he were put on the relay it would much more a kind act of the head coachs.. I would not bet on gold on 4×200 and 4×100 without phelps..

11 years ago

The guy is done. He needs to rest and live the rest of his life. We don’t want to see the greatest Olympian EVER coming back and embarrassing himself on an International level. Mark Spitz tried that and it was pathetic. Give the guy a break and leave him alone. He wants to live his life.

Rafael
Reply to  Elliot
11 years ago
Justin Thompson
Reply to  Elliot
11 years ago

Way too much to lose if he comes back and he couldn’t take more than a year off and hope to win golds at age 31. You can see it in his eyes he is done with swimming. He hates the grind and really doesn’t have that fire in him like when he was younger and hated to lose.

11 years ago

I think Michael should stay retired and enjoy himself. I don’t know the man at all, but he’s earned his retirement. He can still come back to swimming in some other way — coach? SwimSwam journalist? — should he want to get back in the game and provide lots of value to the sport without having to get back in his Speedo and compete.

If he really feels the need to compete again without pressure, he should show up to Masters meets. I’d personally rather see Michael at Montreal 2014 than Rio 2016 😉

Anonymous
11 years ago

Let’s watch him play Golf in the first Olympics where golf is a sport! (Rio)

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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