I know it's early and there's many races to go but --- wanted to ask the experienced swimmers here what they think of Lochte's performance so far.
Is he trying to do too much and swim too many events? I thought he'd medal every event he was in but it looks like he was out of the hardware awards in the 200 freestyle.
Also --- a general question: What's the purpose of the "warm-down" pool? Is it significantly warmer than the main long-course pool? Does it just promote greater relaxation? Is it a usual fixture at major competitions?
Thanks.
AJD
He's overated IMO.
Great swimmer at every stroke but not dominating in any single one stroke. The american media hypes these guys up so much and likes to brush their losses under the table when they get beat like Phelps in the 200.
"Great swimmer at every stroke" this statement is true. "But but not dominating in any single one stroke" this statement is false. " The American media hypes these guys up so much" this statement is true. ' And likes to brush their losses under the table when they get beat like Phelps in the 200" this statement is false.
The reason the second statement is false is because since 2007, Ryan Lochte has been dominating the 200 Back event and has lost only once and that was at the 2009 World Championships when he lost to Peirsol and Aaron set the World Record in that swim. So for close to 6 years he has owned this event but that could change today, we will see. He also has basically been undefeated in both the 200 and 400 IM since taking 3rd in both events at the 2008 Olympics. This could change today also.
The media hypes their swimmers they pick out because that is their job and they have to. Phelps, Lochte, and Franklin have to live with this and incorporate this in their program. Phelps seems to be lower key than the other two when it comes to letting it all hang out with their personalities but then again he has been burned in the past so he is more cautious then the other two. The media seems to key on his family at the meets more than the others but Franklin's parents are getting key media exposure as well. Locthe's parents not so much but getting some. Allison Schmitt is getting a lot of local exposure here in Michigan but not so much nationally.
The media has not bushed off the losses of both Phelps and Lochte and both have to deal with the pressure it brings. When Phelps lost the 200 Fly he was disappointed but when the 800 Free Relay won, he seemed happy again. Also the media realized that even though he did not win the 200 Fly that day, it was a day he made history being the greatest Olympian ever.
I had to laugh when Sebastian Coe didn't think that Phelps was the greatest Olympian and thought Dailey Thompson was. Phelps, in his sport has been more consistent in winning medals consecutively than anyone in the history of the Olympic Games and Visa is starting to hype on that and they should because he deserves it regardless of what happens forward.
Ryan Lochte's place in history will be determined a great deal by what happens today. In 2008, he did this same double and beat Peirsol and won the 200 Back but had a very disappointing 200 IM in taking 3rd. He has had 4 years to work on this double tonight with a 30 to 40 minute break and its very possible he could do it.
If he does it will be considered one of the greatest achievements ever in one day of finals. He would become the second man in Olympic history to win the 200 Back consecutively and he would be in good company with Rolland Matthes who many consider including myself to be the greatest backstroker in history. He would also defeat the greatest swimmer and greatest olympic athlete in history if he wins the 200 IM and that would mean something. This would definitely make up for the 200 Free and 400 Relay disappointments.
He's overated IMO.
Great swimmer at every stroke but not dominating in any single one stroke. The american media hypes these guys up so much and likes to brush their losses under the table when they get beat like Phelps in the 200.
"Great swimmer at every stroke" this statement is true. "But but not dominating in any single one stroke" this statement is false. " The American media hypes these guys up so much" this statement is true. ' And likes to brush their losses under the table when they get beat like Phelps in the 200" this statement is false.
The reason the second statement is false is because since 2007, Ryan Lochte has been dominating the 200 Back event and has lost only once and that was at the 2009 World Championships when he lost to Peirsol and Aaron set the World Record in that swim. So for close to 6 years he has owned this event but that could change today, we will see. He also has basically been undefeated in both the 200 and 400 IM since taking 3rd in both events at the 2008 Olympics. This could change today also.
The media hypes their swimmers they pick out because that is their job and they have to. Phelps, Lochte, and Franklin have to live with this and incorporate this in their program. Phelps seems to be lower key than the other two when it comes to letting it all hang out with their personalities but then again he has been burned in the past so he is more cautious then the other two. The media seems to key on his family at the meets more than the others but Franklin's parents are getting key media exposure as well. Locthe's parents not so much but getting some. Allison Schmitt is getting a lot of local exposure here in Michigan but not so much nationally.
The media has not bushed off the losses of both Phelps and Lochte and both have to deal with the pressure it brings. When Phelps lost the 200 Fly he was disappointed but when the 800 Free Relay won, he seemed happy again. Also the media realized that even though he did not win the 200 Fly that day, it was a day he made history being the greatest Olympian ever.
I had to laugh when Sebastian Coe didn't think that Phelps was the greatest Olympian and thought Dailey Thompson was. Phelps, in his sport has been more consistent in winning medals consecutively than anyone in the history of the Olympic Games and Visa is starting to hype on that and they should because he deserves it regardless of what happens forward.
Ryan Lochte's place in history will be determined a great deal by what happens today. In 2008, he did this same double and beat Peirsol and won the 200 Back but had a very disappointing 200 IM in taking 3rd. He has had 4 years to work on this double tonight with a 30 to 40 minute break and its very possible he could do it.
If he does it will be considered one of the greatest achievements ever in one day of finals. He would become the second man in Olympic history to win the 200 Back consecutively and he would be in good company with Rolland Matthes who many consider including myself to be the greatest backstroker in history. He would also defeat the greatest swimmer and greatest olympic athlete in history if he wins the 200 IM and that would mean something. This would definitely make up for the 200 Free and 400 Relay disappointments.
