{"id":58784,"date":"2014-07-10T14:18:12","date_gmt":"2014-07-10T21:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/?p=58784"},"modified":"2014-07-10T14:18:12","modified_gmt":"2014-07-10T21:18:12","slug":"swimming-world-throwback-thursday-video-the-best-lochte-phelps-matchup-in-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimming-world-throwback-thursday-video-the-best-lochte-phelps-matchup-in-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming World Throwback Thursday Video: The Best Lochte-Phelps Matchup In History"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 10. RYAN Lochte and Michael Phelps have had some amazing duels in the past 10 years, and swimming fans are ecstatic to see more matchups on tap for two of history’s greatest swimmers.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of Lochte and Phelps racing against each other in the 200 IM this week at the Bulldog Grand Slam in Georgia, we thought it appropriate to showcase their greatest head-to-head battle in our Throwback Thursday video.<\/p>\n

At the 2011 world championships, Ryan Lochte was on fire. He had won the 200 free over Michael Phelps, and was going into the 200 IM final with the momentum as the world record holder and No. 1 swimmer in the event for the past two years.<\/p>\n

Phelps hung with Lochte throughout the entire race, leading after butterfly. But a strong breaststroke leg gave Lochte the advantage he needed for the freestyle leg, and Lochte touched the wall in 1:54.00 to break his own world record of 1:54.10. Phelps almost broke the record as well with a 1:54.16.<\/p>\n

Watch the video below to see two great swimmers show mastery in all four strokes.<\/p>\n