By Elliott Almond ealmond@mercurynews.com
Apparently swim star Ryan Lochte underestimated his super powers.
After finishing third in the 100-meter backstroke Wednesday at the ConocoPhillips U.S. championships, he declared, "The season is over."
Lochte decided to shut it down on his 27th birthday because of the fatigue of traveling across the world to compete at Stanford. He won five gold medals at the FINA World Championships in China last week to emerge as the swimmer to watch heading to the London Games.
Matt Grevers won the race Wednesday in 53.14 seconds, followed by Nick Thoman (53.57) and then a fading Lochte (53.79). Lochte also finished 22nd in the 100 breaststroke Tuesday.
"Practice starts tomorrow," the Florida swimmer said.
But the night belonged to Lochte, who left the Avery Aquatic Center to celebrate his birthday at the Cheesecake Factory in Palo Alto.
Lochte had planned to swim at least two more events at the championships that end Saturday. But if he had realized the difficulty of racing back-to-back meets thousands of miles apart, "I wouldn't have wasted my time coming here."
It wasn't a waste for those who got to see the biggest star since Michael Phelps, a swimmer expected to electrify London next summer. It wasn't a waste for Grevers, who said, "Any time you can beat Ryan Lochte, it's a great time."
And it was a thrill for the girl who got Lochte's bronze medal after the victory ceremony.
"The only medals I want to keep are Olympic medals," he said. "This isn't something I would put up on a mantel. It means more to the fans who support us."
"The only medals I want to keep are Olympic medals," he said. "This isn't something I would put up on a mantel. It means more to the fans who support us."
It's a side of Lochte few know. At the 1992 U.S. Olympic trials, a big-name swimmer refused to give the young Lochte an autograph as they rode an elevator. He told Steve Lochte, "Dad, if I get to be in that position, I'll never do that to somebody," his father recalled this week. "He's sensitive, especially to kids."
Many have heard the stories about the skateboarder/surfer known for loud fashion statements at the pool and multiple motor scooter injuries.
"I'm dealing with a 27-year-old man who lives on the edge a little bit," Lochte's coach Gregg Troy said. "If you do anything other than allow him to be himself, he's not going to be the same athlete."
Peter Vanderkay, who easily won the 200 freestyle in 1:46.45 on Wednesday, has pushed Lochte in the middle distances as his training partner. He also has been influenced by Lochte's relaxed attitude at the pool.
"He's a unique breed," said Vanderkay, who used to train with Phelps at Michigan. "It doesn't consume him."
But Lochte's ascent also means there's more at stake in the coming year. The injuries used to not be a big deal for the swimmer and coach.
"Now it's a profession," Troy said. "The bad part is it does affect his swimming. The good part is they really get him to zero in on his training. Once he gets injured, suddenly every session becomes really important."
It also will be important for Lochte to handle the spotlight being cast on him. Troy, who has built a stable of world-class swimmers in Gainesville, Fla., and is coach of the U.S. Olympic team, hopes Lochte and his agent understand the importance of training as they receive more media demands.
"It's a really fast world out there," Troy said. "I don't think there is any room to back off."
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