The era of Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte dominating the global scene in the men’s 400m IM is officially over; neither Phelps or Lochte will be swimming the 400m IM at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.
While Michael Phelps opted not to swim the 400m IM, and hasn’t indicated any interest in swimming it since his comeback in 2012, Lochte swam it at the 2016 U.S Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite heading into finals as the second seed, Lochte was beaten by not just one, but two swimmers.
Chase Kalisz touched in first in 4:09.54 and Jay Litherland threw down a massive last 100 to take down Lochte by a full second with a 4:11.02. For the first time since the 2004 Olympic Trials, Lochte’s name was not one of the top two on the megatron at the CenturyLink Center.
This Olympic Games will be the first since the 2000 games in Sydney, Phelps first Olympics, to not feature either Lochte or Phelps in the 400m IM.
Over the past 14-years, Phelps and Lochte have collected an impressive medal haul in the 400m IM alone. Phelps earned two Olympic golds, two world championship titles, and two Pan Pacific Championship titles.
Lochte earned one Olympic gold, one Olympic bronze, two world championship titles, one world championship silver, three short course world championship titles, and one Pan Pacific Championship title.
Collectively, the two have rocked this event and made it almost impossible for anybody to step into their spotlight.
Lochte’s 4:12.66 performance from earlier this season indicated that he would be a prime candidate to continue that legacy in Rio, however arguably the most grueling event in swimming’s repertoire will fall into the hands of Kalisz and Litherland.
Since 2012, neither Phelps or Lochte have placed much importance on the 400m IM and that’s allowed for Chase Kalisz to squeeze into the shoes of the two studs. In 2013 he took home silver at the world championships. In 2014, he finished third in the 400m IM at Pan Pacs. In 2015, he picked up a world championship bronze in the event.
Lochte entering the 400m IM at trials meant the possibility of the revival of the Phelps-Lochte era, however Kalisz, who’s been the most dominant 400m IMer in the States besides over the last quadrennial shut him down, ushering in the new age of the American 400m IM.
Jay Litherland is no stranger to success either. Last summer Litherland took home gold in the 400m IM at the 2015 World University Games.
Although Kalisz and Litherland now hold the responsibility of filling Phelps and Lochte’s shoes, the American medley season is looking strong moving forward past 2016.
Kalisz redshirted this season to train with Bob Bowman in Arizona, however he’s one of three Georgia swimmers who finished within the top four in tonight’s final. Litherland also trains at Georgia as does Gunnar Bentz who finished fourth behind Lochte.
The talent at Georgia is huge, but that’s not the only place that holds the future of this event’s success for the United States. Sean Grieshop, 17, finished fifth in tonight’s final in 4:14.08 after breaking the world junior record in prelims with a 4:14.00.
With Phelps and Lochte gone from the event, a new era of American medley is stepping forward. All the fresh faces and excitement just means one thing: they have some enormous shoes to fill.
Happy for Kalisz! Was rooting for him since last year!
Lochte and Phelps are gonna make it in 200im
SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE 😀
happy that lochte did not make the 400 Im team
He can contribute to 800 free relay.
200 im at Rio is going to be amazing!
Hagino looks like he is going to be way ahead in Rio. I didn’t like to her Phelps saying that Chase was a “great trainer”. That implies that his translation into “racer” is not quite there yet. He’s got 6 weeks to transform himself if he wants to compete for gold.
What the heck are you talking about. Kalisz has medaled at Worlds in this events the last two times.
It bugs me that Phelps doesn’t have the Junior World Record since he went 4:11 when he was 17.
There are many more swims faster than the current Jr WRs, not just Phelps’.
They didn’t start keeping track jwr until recently
It’s been a looong wait…but by the sound of it, worth it!!! US swimming trials are always hot and a great indicator to where the medals (come Rio this time) are likely to be won. As soon as I saw that 4.09 by Chase, I wondered,,,had he entered Hagino country?!! Well, he had! If he can evoke the spirit of Phelps and Lochte, he could dream of mounting highest podium. If I was a betting man, the house of the Rising Sun with Hagino and Seto guarding gold…best beware!! Excuse me, I have to now hear more on the groin drama surrounding Ryran L. I saw his press conference with D Marsh where he said swimmers had to deal with… Read more »
The time that Kalisz posted is the second best in the qual period. Only hagino is faster but he has never won a title only his teammate has. It will be the two Americans vs two Japanese for the medals. I think the winning time will be around 408 and 409 will medal.
Kalisz and Litherland are good, but not quite at the level of Phelps and Lochte
yeah both will have to dig deep in Rio as those times probably not in the medal mix yet.
I think Kalisz still got something left to unleash for Rio.
4:11 in the I.M. Isn’t going to cut it. I would imagine that would be looked at if it came down to cuts. Get ready for Michael Andrew Wilson tonight and lookout for outside smoke in lane 8.
It would have been fourth last year in Kazan.
Phelps did not swim the 400 IM in Sydney 2000. He did swim it at the trials that year, but only swam the 200 fly at his first Olympic Games.
I thought the same thing when I first read that, but it’s right. This the first time *since* the 2000 games that neither MP nor RL will be in the 400 IM.