by ANDREA FRENCH Section Editor
The most decorated Olympian ever, Michael Phelps, and teammate Ryan Lochte, were constantly being set against each other throughout the 2012 Summer Olympics. Both of these swimmers are extremely talented and both represented the United States positively. Twenty-seven-year-old Phelps made a huge impact at his fourth Olympics this summer, and went on to become the most decorated Olympian ever. He finished his swimming carreer with 22 Olympic medals: 18 gold medals, two silver, and three bronze. Phelps got off to a slow start, but did not fail to live up to his potential at the last Olympics of his career. Twenty-eight-year-old Lochte, seemed to “come out of the wood work” in this Olympics. The first race that Lochte and Phelps competed in was the 400 meter individual relay. Phelps came in eighth in the qualifying rounds, and only the first eight qualify for the final round. In the finals, Lochte came in first, and Thiago Pereira of Brazil and Kosuke Hagino of Japan finished before Phelps, who came in fourth.