By Mike Gustafson
http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=1&itemid=3928&mid=8712&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
It’s like that old saying: “You can’t have one without the other.”
“Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte” might go down as the greatest rivalry in the history of Olympic sports. Sportswriters might write about it for years to come. Movies made. HBO films written. It might become as important as “Bird vs. Magic” in the history of sports legend. You might tell your children’s children about that time you witnessed, first-hand, the epic battle that was “Phelps v. Lochte” the same way people talk about Ali v. Frazier or Magic v. Bird. That’s because our current two best swimmers in the world, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, will begin a legendary journey this weekend at the Minneapolis Grand Prix that will culminate at the London Olympics. “Phelps v. Lochte” has the type of potential to become one of sport’s greatest rivalries.
Then again, it might not.
So much has been written about the “rivalry” between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. To be honest, I am of two-minds. On the one hand, this rivalry should be as big as it gets. You have the Greatest Swimmer of All-Time vs. someone who has beaten his world records. You have a 16-time Olympic medalist vs. someone who COULD win 16 Olympic medals (Lochte currently has 6). They swim the same events. They are around the same age. They swim for the same country.
But is it a rivalry?
To help sift through this, I sucked down a quart of coffee. Then I constructed an internal “Point/Counter-Point” debate with myself. The hope is that by the conclusion of the monologue, I will come to a decision about this pressing question in our sport:
Is “Phelps vs. Lochte” really a rivalry?
Point: Of course it is.
Michael Phelps needs no introduction: He’s like Michael Jordan of swimming, the legend, the man with the championships. Ryan Lochte also needs no introduction: He’s like the Kobe Bryant of swimming, the “new” champion, the rising star, also with some championships. Comparing these two always seems like the typical question most sportswriters ask, “Who is better – Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant?” You can argue all day, but the argument won’t get anywhere. Jordan and Kobe never competed against each other, in their prime, at the same time.
But there’s the thing: Phelps and Lochte ARE in their prime. They’re NOT like Jordan and Kobe; they’re like Magic and Bird. One could argue that Phelps’ prime of his career was three years ago in Beijing when he scored an unprecedented 8 gold medals. Tough to argue with that. One could also argue that Ryan Lochte’s prime is yet to come – probably in London, a few months from today. Tough to argue with that, too.
But I don’t buy it.
Here, you have the two most popular and dominant male swimmers from the past few years battling each other in the same events. The 200m freestyle. The 200m IM. Possibly the 100m or 200m backstroke. Possibly the 100m freestyle. And they are on the same team. The stakes are higher. The pressure is greater. There can only be one.
Really, it comes down to that 200m IM. The individual medley has long been known as the Ultimate Decider. The 200 IM is the litmus test that gauges who, exactly, is the Best All-Around Swimmer in the pool. Phelps has declared that he will never swim the 400IM again in a major competition. So that leaves the 200 IM as the only event these two can square off in. Meanwhile, Lochte has wrestled the 200 IM world record away from Phelps. Which means Lochte is faster. Which means, if Phelps decides he still wants to compete in the 200 IM, he HAS to be considered an underdog…
Which leads me to my point: How can “The Greatest,” competing in his prime, be an underdog?
He can’t. Can’t happen. Doesn’t make sense, logically. Which either means one of two things: 1.) Phelps is beyond his prime, or 2.) Lochte is as good as Phelps. Personally, I don’t believe Phelps his beyond his prime. Phelps will be as good in London as he was in Beijing. The only difference is that Lochte will be much, much better than he was four years ago. This must be considered a true rivalry. And it’s one that could go down as one of the greatest sports rivalries ever.
You’re saying this isn’t a rivalry? Then you need to get your head checked, Mike.
Counter-Point: Mike, you ignorant fool.
You say these two are similar to Magic and Bird? I can see that. I can buy your argument that each are in their prime and that SOMETIMES they compete against each other. Sure, Phelps lost a few races and records along the way. But he’s still in good shape, and is still young. And Lochte is also reaching his prime. These two are both near their “full potential.” This is about as close as we swim fans are ever going to get witnessing the two best swimmers in the world, each very near the prime of their respective careers. I will agree with you on that.
But just one thing.
Phelps and Lochte are on the same team.
I understand this reaches a point of philosophical debate: Is it really a rivalry if you are on the same team? That debate goes into other debates, such as if swimming is an individualistic sport vs. a team-based sport. Of course, I would argue that it is a team sport. Even though no one physically “helps” you during a race, swimming really is a team sport. Phelps doesn’t train on his own. Lochte doesn’t swim relays on his own. How many of Phelps’ Olympic gold medals are from relays? Nearly 1/3 of them. Not a ton, but significant enough. Without the help of a legendary push by Jason Lezak, Phelps might not be viewed as legendary as he is today.
So, because Phelps and Lochte are on the SAME TEAM, this will never reach a true “Ali vs. Frazier” or “Bird vs. Magic” type of rivalry. Because they share the same goals. It is very possible that Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps will be on the same relays in London. It’s happened before. And in that question, when you have two people HELPING each other achieve goals of winning a gold, does “Phelps vs. Lochte” become a real, true, sport-changing rivalry?
Australia in the early 2000s was a rivalry. France in freestyle relays is now a rivalry. The United States and these countries competed against each other, no matter what, at all times. And it was exciting. It was thrilling. They were oppositional forces colliding for one goal. To have a solid foundation for a rivalry, two forces must be opposed against each other. For example, Ali vs. Frazier. Classic example of “mano a mano.” And right now, sure, Phelps and Lochte might compete against each other in some events, but they also HELP each other.
And that’s the difference.
How can TEAMMATES be epic, sports-changing, legendary rivals?
They are still competitive, don’t get me wrong. But there is a very big difference between friendly (or not-so-friendly) competition and a sport-changing, transcendent, legendary Olympic rivalry. We will be treated to good races. But it will be nothing like the “Miracle On Ice” or “Bird vs. Magic” other great sports rivalries. A rival competes against each other for the same job, the same goal, the same victory. The last time I checked, Phelps and Lochte both wore a “Team USA” swim cap, were both on relays, and both train together.
Conclusion: Well, I have to agree with Mike on this one. In order for this to become a great Olympic rivalry, we need one thing to happen:
They need to be on different teams.
Thankfully for us Team USA swimming fans, that ain’t gonna happen. We’re treated to two of the best swimmers in the world, who share the same goal. In my opinion, “Phelps vs. Lochte” will never become a true, real, lasting “rivalry.” And that’s OK. Sure, they will have some close, exciting, thrilling races. Sure, they are competitors and neither of them wants to lose. But ultimately, both Phelps and Lochte are Olympic veterans who understand that Team USA is bigger than any one person. Bigger than any race. Bigger than any rivalry. As long as these two friends and comrades finish 1-2 on the medal podium, then nothing else matters.
Right?
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