{"id":407037,"date":"2019-12-31T01:12:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-31T08:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=407037"},"modified":"2019-12-31T12:16:54","modified_gmt":"2019-12-31T19:16:54","slug":"decade-in-the-mirror-john-lohn-my-top-10-usa-highlights-led-by-a-fond-farewell-from-michael-phelps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/decade-in-the-mirror-john-lohn-my-top-10-usa-highlights-led-by-a-fond-farewell-from-michael-phelps\/","title":{"rendered":"Decade In The Mirror: John Lohn – My Top 10 USA Highlights Led By a Fond Farewell From Michael Phelps"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Decade Ends (Michael Phelps)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a nation as stacked as the United States, choosing 10 highlights from the past decade was not an easy task. As readers peruse this piece, several will stop and wonder, \u201cwhy was this moment left out?\u201d Managing a consensus is rarely an achievable feat when compiling lists of this type, but the 10 items selected for inclusion here are no doubt noteworthy and among the biggest highlights of the past 10 years.<\/p>\n

Of course, some of the biggest names are included, Michael Phelps<\/strong> and Katie Ledecky<\/strong> leading the way. With Phelps in retirement, next decade will be the first since 1990-99 in which he was not a major factor. For Ledecky, she\u2019ll jumpstart her next decade with an Olympic season<\/a> and in search of a rebound from a 2019 season that was hampered by illness<\/a> at the World Championships.<\/p>\n

Beyond Phelps and Ledecky, the past 10 years witnessed the revival of a sprint star, a spectacular two-year run by one of the most affable women swimming has seen and a barrier-breaking performance that promoted \u2013 hopefully \u2013 greater inclusion of minority athletes.<\/p>\n

1. Michael Phelps Waves Farewell With a Flourish<\/h3>\n
\"imgmichael-phelps-rio-2016-olympics\"

Photo Courtesy: International Business Times<\/p><\/div>\n

The initial goodbye from Michael Phelps<\/strong>, which came at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, was done with smoke and mirrors. Between Phelps\u2019 masterpiece of eight gold medals at the Beijing Games and the 2012 Olympics, Phelps did not put his entire focus on the sport. His training was routinely interrupted and the passion that drove Phelps to the greatest achievement in Olympic history waned. Still, the man was gifted enough to still capture six medals, including four of the gold variety.<\/p>\n

But as the 2016 Olympics crept closer, Phelps developed the urge to give the sport another go \u2013 and he did so on terms that were more in line with what Phelps and Bob Bowman<\/strong> sculpted early in his career. With a renewed commitment, Phelps was the headliner of the 2016 Olympics<\/a> in Rio de Janeiro, where he won six medals, including five gold. He recaptured his title in the 200-meter butterfly, the event that jumpstarted the entire Phelps Phenomenon, and delivered a dynamic leg on the United States\u2019 victorious 400 freestyle relay.<\/p>\n

With a final ledger of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them landing Phelps on the top step of the podium, the greatest swimmer in history left the competitive pool in the most appropriate fashion: On top, and in dominant form.<\/p>\n

2. A 15-Year-Old Katie Ledecky Makes A Loud Announcement<\/h3>\n
\"Katie

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch<\/p><\/div>\n

Most fans will remember Katie Ledecky\u2019s<\/strong> decade most for what she accomplished at the 2016 Olympics, where the American freestyle star won five medals and joined Debbie Meyer<\/strong><\/a> (1968) as the only athlete to prevail in the 200 freestyle, 400 free and 800 free in the same Olympiad. Four years earlier, though, marked Ledecky\u2019s true emergence.<\/p>\n

After opening eyes at the United States Olympic Trials with her victory in the 800 freestyle, Ledecky used the stage of the 2012 Games to announce her presence to the world. Racing alongside reigning Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington<\/strong>, the British star competing in front of her home crowd, Ledecky blasted her way<\/a> to an American record of 8:14.63, beating Spain\u2019s Mireia Belmonte<\/strong> by more than four seconds, and defeating Adlington by nearly six seconds.<\/p>\n

The title for Ledecky launched a new era, one which will continue to take shape in the next decade. Ledecky is already widely considered the greatest female swimmer in history, and her world-record performances over 400, 800 and 1500 meters of freestyle sit in a land that others can only dream of visiting.<\/p>\n