Ryan Lochte and Emma Weyant Double at Florida Virtual Champs
Six months shy of chasing his fifth Olympic berth, Ryan Lochte added two more victories on Saturday at the Florida Virtual Championships in Sarasota. A 12-time Olympic medalist, Lochte claimed wins in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley, and while his times were nothing special, the opportunity to race is what Lochte has deemed important to his preparation.
Coming off Friday night triumphs in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Lochte opened the session with a win in the 100 back, his time of 47.65 quick enough to fend off runnerup Hayden Kwan (47.99). Lochte followed with a clocking of 1:43.48 in the 200 medley, a swim that handed him a four-second decision over Grant Sanders. The meet was Lochte’s first since last month’s U.S. Open, where he was critical of his performances and discussed the need to race more consistently.
A contender to qualify for the Team USA roster for the Tokyo Olympics in the 400 individual medley, Emma Weyant was a double winner in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle. Weyant, who has deferred her enrollment to the University of Virginia to train for the Olympic Trials, bested the field in the 200 IM in 1:58.70 and covered the 500 freestyle in 4:38.39.