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Journalism of Courage
Ryan Lochte has no problems with good friend and rival Michael Phelps grabbing the pre-Olympic spotlight, but when the duo hit the water in Beijing next month he will not concede a thing.
8220;I honestly don8217;t care if Michael gets all of the attention. I8217;m like that guy who doesn8217;t like to talk. I like to do my own thing on the side. We have a friendly rivalry. But when I get on the blocks, I want to win,8221;Lochte said.
The 23-year-old Lochte told a gathering of Olympic reporters he would not give an inch to Phelps, however, when the two will share the pool at the Beijing.
8220;That8217;s one of the biggest problems for competitors, when they have someone like a Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps, a LeBron James or Michael Jordan, that they8217;re going for second. We don8217;t think like that. That8217;s the wrong mindset, especially for swimming. I feel like I can win any time, against anyone, and that8217;s the way I approach my races8221;. Lochte performed spectacularly at the Olympic trials, finishing a close second to Phelps in the 200 and 400m individual medley.
Free spirit
THE fragile psyche of many athletes would be damaged with three second-place finishes heading into the Olympics but Lochte is a free spirit who takes life as it comes. 8220;I don8217;t feel any pressure. That8217;s the way I approach races. I8217;m never nervous. That8217;s just my personality. I8217;m there to have fun. I8217;m just Ryan Lochte. When they say step up to the blocks it switches to Ryan the racer. Then after that, I touch the wall, I8217;m back to being Ryan Lochte. I like to skateboard, surf and have a good time8221;.
Lochte said his laid-back persona drove his father crazy but it worked for him. A tumble while skateboarding just before the short-course world championships in Manchester earlier this gave him several ugly scrapes on his legs. His response 8212; four golds and two silvers.
Having fun at work
8220;I8217;m definitely not a serious-minded person. I8217;m more of a laid-back, go-with-the-flow goof-off. I just like to have fun. If I thought about swimming all day I8217;d go crazy,8221; he grinned.
Lochte said he began to attract more notice when he won the gold in the 4215;200 m freestyle at the Athens Games and took silver in the 200 m individual medley. 8220;A lot changed since the 2004. People started recognising me and I wasn8217;t that little Daytona Beach surfer kid sneaking up behind everyone8221;.
Lochte, widely credited for pushing Phelps to his world records, wishes his friend luck in his quest for an unprecedented eight Olympic golds. 8220;More power to him going for eight. It8217;s something no one has ever thought about doing. If he does it that8217;s great. But if he doesn8217;t I guess that8217;s a good thing. I8217;m hoping it will mean that I did something pretty good8221;.
