FOR THE RECORD: 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x200m freestyle relay); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (400m IM, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay), bronze (200m backstroke); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay), bronze (200m & 400m IM); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m IM); 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Long Course (WC LC): gold (200m IM, 4x100m medley relay, 4x100m mixed medley relay), silver (4x200m freestyle relay); 2013 WC LC: gold (200m backstroke, 200m IM, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (4x100m freestyle relay); 2011 WC LC: gold (200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m IM, 400m IM, 4x200m freestyle relay), bronze (4x100m freestyle relay); 2009 WC LC: gold (200m IM, 400m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay), bronze (200m backstroke); 2007 WC LC: gold (200m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle), silver (100m backstroke, 200m IM, 400m IM); 2005 WC LC: gold (4x200m freestyle relay), bronze (200m backstroke, 200m IM); 2014 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Short Course (WC SC): gold (4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m IM, 200m backstroke, 4x50m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay), bronze (200m freestyle, 100m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay); 2012 WC SC: gold (200m freestyle, 100m IM, 200m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay), silver (200m backstroke), bronze (100m butterfly); 2010 WC SC: gold (200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 100m IM, 200m IM, 400m IM, 4x100m medley relay) silver (4x200m freestyle relay); 2008 WC SC: gold (100m IM, 200m IM, 400m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay), silver (200m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay); 2006 WC SC: gold (200m backstroke, 200m IM, 400m IM), silver (4x100m medley relay), bronze (4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay); 2004 WC SC: gold (4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m IM) bronze (200m freestyle).
From the moment Ryan Lochte made his Olympic debut for the United States at the 2004 Games in Athens, he became a critical cog of American success on the international stage. As a four-time Olympian (2004-2016), Lochte obviously possessed the talent necessary to flourish at the elite level.
But the Florida native also owned another key attribute; Belief. Package those traits together, and it’s no wonder that Lochte is now an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
During the early part of his career, Lochte emerged as a multi-event standout for both Team USA and the University of Florida, swimming for Coach Gregg Troy. At the 2004 Olympics, a silver medal in the 200m individual medley defined Lochte as a worldwide force, complemented with a gold medal in the 800m freestyle relay which snapped Australia’s several-years global reign in the event.
Over the next two years Lochte continued to shine, primarily in the medley events and 200 backstroke. He captured multiple medals between the World Long Course Championships and World Short Course Championships, but there were remaining hurdles; Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol, American teammates who Lochte, at least until that point, could not defeat.
At the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Lochte started to shift the narrative, as he beat Peirsol in the 200m backstroke. He replicated that feat at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he added bronze medals in the 200m IM and 400m IM, finishing behind Phelps. But the gap between Lochte and Phelps had narrowed, and Lochte was confident he could beat his longtime rival.
At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, Lochte topped Phelps in the 200m freestyle and 200m IM, where he set a world record. At that edition of the World Champs, Lochte also won gold in the 400m IM and 200m backstroke. The belief he could beat anyone had come to fruition.
“I believe in myself,” Lochte said. “A lot of people look at Michael and think he can’t be beaten. That’s not me. I know I can beat him. That’s the competitive edge that I have. I never feel like I’m going to lose, no matter who I’m racing. I always feel like I can win.”
At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Lochte surged to gold in the 400m IM, an event in which Phelps finished fourth, although Phelps beat Lochte in the 200m IM. Lochte also earned a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke. Four years later at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Lochte won gold for the fourth straight time in the 800m freestyle relay.
Lochte’s portfolio is stunning, thanks to 12 Olympic medals (six gold), 27 medals from the World Long Course Championships and 38 medals from the World Short Course Championships. He is one of the greatest collegiate swimmers in history and stood out in both the long-course and short-course pools.
While his pure talent and work ethic certainly elevated Lochte to the top of his sport, his mental toughness and belief in his abilities played equally critical roles on his road to Hall of Fame status.