Published 12/04/2022, 9:00 AM EST
Although Michael Phelps is way ahead of any swimmer when it comes to winning championships, his one competitor and good friend was a big challenge for him in the water sport. Even though Phelps and his good friend shared an epic rivalry in their sport, the two have always shared a good relationship. And their recent nostalgia moment is proof of the same.
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For those unaware, Phelps and Ryan Lochte went down memory lane after having a throwback moment. Notably, Lochte and Phelps were contemporaries, part of the U.S. Olympic swimming team. However, the pair were friends and one another’s biggest rivals inside the pool. Lochte often gave Phelps a run for his money, earning multiple golds at the Olympic games.
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Earlier today, Lochte posted a story on Instagram reminding Micheal about a special memory from 2004.
Ryan Lochte reminded Michael Phelps of their good old days:
Recently, Ryan Lochte posted a story on his Instagram profile. In the short video, the olympian is walking down a flight of steps that leads to a swimming pool. However, this wasn’t just another pool. “Hey, Phelps-y. Do you remember this? Walking down these steps, 2004 for a relay? You gathered us together at the relay and said it’s our time. Right here,” Ryan said in the video.
While Lochte asked Micheal the question, he clarified how he remembers the special moment from 2004. “I remember it as it was yesterday!” Ryan captioned the post and tagged the 23-time gold medalist. Phelps didn’t leave his friend hanging for too long. Within a few hours, the most decorated Olympian shared Ryan’s story on his profile and answered his former teammate.
“Like it was yesterday, baby!!!” Michael wrote. Phelps and Lochte were the iconic Olympic duo. They were friends, teammates, and even rivals. While the pair competed against one another in individual races, they played to their strengths during team events. Many fans also regard Lochte as Michaels’s biggest rival, as he often gave stiff competition to Phelps.
Phelps and Ryan swam on the U.S. Olympic swimming team from 2004 to 2016. Ryan won 12 Olympic medals, six of which were golds. However, at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Ryan gained infamy after an incident at a gas station. The police got involved, and Lochte faced conviction. However, he apologized, avoiding jail time but losing his sponsors.
Which race did Lochte mention?
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In Ryan’s story, he recalls the memory of a relay race from 2004. However, the six-time Olympic gold medalist didn’t reveal the location. While it’s not possible to know the venue’s location or which race Ryan mentioned, he and Phelps bagged an iconic victory during the 4×200 m relay at the 2004 Olympics. Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Klete Keller, and Peter Vanderkaay made up the U.S. team.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Gold medalist Townley Haas, Conor Dwyer, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps of the United States celebrate during the medal presentation for the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The Australian team was the favorite to win the event. However, the U.S. Olympic swimming team pulled off an upset win, handing the Australians their first loss after six years.
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Watch this story – Swimming Legend Michael Phelps’ Top 5 Iconic Career Races
Do you think Lochte was Michael’s greatest rival? Or was it someone else?
“Like It Was Yesterday”: Infamous Us Swimmer and Friend Reminds Michael Phelps of Special Memory From 2004
