Ryan Lochte was back in the pool last week, beating competitors to the wall and reestablishing himself as one of the best swimmers in the world after a year of making a name for himself on TV.
He won the 200m individual medley Sunday in 1:58.07 for his fourth title of the weekend after taking the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, and 200 back. He also finished second behind London champ Nathan Adrian in the 100 free.
But despite the victories after only six weeks of hard fought training, Lochte admitted to spending too much time in the limelight since London, even though he wasn’t exactly sad about it.
“I wish I didn’t get so caught up in the celebrity lifestyle,” the five-time Olympic champ told the Associated Press. “But my body and mind needed a break from every day training.
“It brought me and my family closer together. That was special. Being on `30 Rock’ and doing a scene with Alec Baldwin was awesome. He’s one of the funniest guys I’ve met. It was a new experience for me.
“If the opportunity comes up again, I’d be more than happy to do.”
Now Lochte is preparing for nationals, which start June 25, and says he expects to be facing longtime friend and rival Michael Phelps when he dives into the pool this year, and three years from now in Rio.
“I just have a feeling he’s going to be back.”
