Watch: Ryan Lochte Post 200 IM Full Press Conference

^{Captured by D’Artagnan Dias.} 

^{Produced by Coleman Hodges.}

^{Reported by Mitch Bowmile.}

MEN’S 200M IM FINAL

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 1:55.78 – Michael Phelps – USA
World Record: 1:54.00 (2011) – Ryan Lochte – USA
Olympic Record: 1:54.23 (2008) – Michael Phelps – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 1:54.27 – Michael Phelps – USA

In the last historic showdown between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte of the United States, the winningest Olympian of all time came up with yet another win as Lochte faded on the final 50 to finish off the podium.

Thiago Pereira of Brazil turned first at the 50-meter mark followed closely by both Phelps and Lochte. Heading into the halfway point Lochte edged the two leaders out heading into the wall, turning first after the backstroke as the three leaders all turned onto the front.

With a huge move on the breaststroke Phelps took the lead. Pereira passed Lochte as they turned for home in that order.

Coming off the final wall Phelps only extended his lead, surging in front of some of his biggest rivals from his career in order to establish a body-length lead.

At the wall it was all Phelps as he stretched in to win his 22nd Olympic gold medal and 26th Olympic medal. The win made Phelps the first swimmer to ever win four consecutive golds in the same event at the Olympic Games. Phelps time of 1:54.66 was just 0.66 seconds off Lochte’s world record.

Both Lochte and Pereira faded on the last 50 as Kosuke Hagino of Japan and Wang Shun of China both edged out in front of the two veterans. Hagino claimed silver in 1:56.61 as  Shun took the bronze in 1:57.05.

Lochte ended up fifth in 1:57.47, falling just about half a second back of a podium finish. Pereira faded even harder, finishing seventh in 1:58.02.

1.Michael Phelps – USA – 1:54.66