Ryan Lochte seized a long-awaited 200m individual medley victory over Michael Phelps on Friday, winning the title at the US Championships in a blistering 1:54.84.
Lochte boasts impeccable medley credentials and set the world record of 1:54.10 in winning the world title last year in Rome. But he had never beaten Phelps in the event in head-to-head competition in a major national or international competition.
Phelps, who won Olympic gold in the event in 2004 and 2008 and had held the world record since 2003, skipped it at last year’s world championships when Lochte triumphed.
“It feels great,” Lochte said.
“I’ve been trying (to beat Phelps) for a long time. To finally get a win feels good.”
Phelps finished second in 1:55.94.
Lochte used a strong breaststroke leg to overtake Phelps, who had led after both the butterfly and backstroke.
After Lochte grabbed the lead at the final turn, Phelps was unable to mount a challenge in the closing 50m of freestyle.
“With 75 metres left it kind of felt like my body shut down,” said Phelps, the Beijing Olympic hero who is enduring an erratic season after taking time off from training.
Even so, he had managed to win his three previous events in Irvine – the 200m free and 100m and 200m butterfly.
Lochte, who also won the 400m medley on Tuesday, said he knew it was crucial to get the jump on Phelps on the breaststroke leg of the four-stroke event.
“The key is that breaststroke-to-free turn,” Lochte said.
“If he’s right with you and he pushes off that wall, he’ll pop up a body length ahead and it’s over.”
Lochte’s victory came less than an hour after he delivered a storming finish to seize second place behind Nathan Adrian in the 100m freestyle – not one of his usual events.
Adrian, winner of the 50m free on Thursday, won the 100m free in 48.41sec, with Lochte rallying on the second lap for second place in 48.83. Veteran Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale tied for third in 48.96.
Times from this meeting and the Pan Pacs will determine the US team for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.