Photo Courtesy: Azaria Basile
CHARLOTTE – Ryan Lochte is having one of the best seasons of his life, if the tone of his voice during a conference call with the media is to be believed.
“So far, this season has been going better than last season,” Lochte said. “No injuries so far … knock on wood.”
Nearly every news article about Lochte from November 2013 to August 2014 concerned his recovery from a devastating knee injury during a fan encounter that put his kicking abilities into question. Lochte admitted he was not on his best form last summer, failing to win an individual gold medal at the Pan Pacific championships. He was fast enough to earn selection to next month’s short course world championship team and next year’s long course worlds squad.
Though Lochte sounded like he was dealing with a case of the sniffles during the conference call, he had nothing but positive statements about the progress of training and race preparation for next month’s meet.
Going to race in short course meters meets in Italy this month was “a good stepping stone” for what’s to come in Doha, he said. “I love short course meters. I love the turns. I love the underwaters. There will be some fast people there and I can’t wait to race.”
Lochte mentioned Australia and Russia as two countries that will present many challenges to the Americans next month, and for himself in particular as he looks to increase his short course worlds medal tally. Lochte currently has 30 medals in short course worlds racing, including 20 golds. He’ll step up against Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who publicly stated that he wants Ryan Lochte’s 400 IM world record. Lochte won’t race the 400 IM but will likely swim against Hagino in the 100 and 200 IM, as well as the 100 and 200 backstroke.
“He’s been getting faster,” Lochte said. “He’s definitely one of the top guys in multiple events.”
One of the people Lochte used to racing often is Michael Phelps, who Lochte says will return to competition after his six-month competition ban ends for a DUI arrest in September.
“The number one thing he’s doing now is getting healthy,” Lochte said of Phelps’ stint in rehab. “But after that, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back.”