World Record holder and 12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte made it all the way to the 200 IM final at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II. He was in contention to make his 5th Olympic team.
In the final tonight, Lochte placed 7th with a time of 1:59.67. Michael Andrew won the race (1:55.44), slightly slower than his semifinals swim. And Chase Kalisz, who won silver in the 400 IM at the 2016 Rio Olympics, earned 2nd place with a time of 1:56.97.
Lochte had a faster last 50 freestyle than Andrew, splitting a 29.46 to Andrew’s 30.09. Lochte also had one of the faster reaction times, .65 compared to Andrew and Kalisz’s .68 and .69, respectively.
But what really set him back was that he had the 7th fastest 50 breast split (34.69). This bumped him to 7th place, .08 behind 6th place finisher Andrew Seliskar who was able to hold him off on the freestyle.
This was Lochte’s final event of the meet, so he has officially missed making the Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympic team roster. He also finished 25th in the 200 free at this meet.
36-year-old Lochte clarified in his post-race interview Friday night that this isn’t the end of the road for him, but that that might not mean more competing.
“There’s a lot more that I want to accomplish in the sport of swimming,” he said. “Whether it’s in the pool or outside the pool, making swimming bigger. That’s my biggest goal.”
“But I’m enjoying having fun, teaching all these younger kids everything that I’ve learned,” he said while gesturing to 22-year-old Andrew. “And carrying the torch like this guy,” he gestured to Andrew again. “He’s going to represent USA well and I’m proud. ”
When asked how he wants to be remembered in the pool, Lochte did not list any of his accomplishments. Instead, he called Andrew and the entire swimming community part of his family.
Lochte’s ending statement of the interview: “I’m gonna go be a dad right now and give my kids a hug.”
Race Video – 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II Men’s 200 IM Final
Lochte won silver in this event at the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games and he won bronze in 2008. He set the current World Record at 1:54.00 at the 2011 World Championships. He has been a part of Team USA’s gold medal-winning 800 free relays at every Olympic Games since 2004, and he placed 4th in the individual 200 free at the 2012 Olympics.
Here’s a look back at Lochte’s World Record-setting 200 IM swim at World Championships in 2011:
