Olympic roommates Michael Phelps and Ryan lochte maintain a relaxed vibe at the athletes' village. There's an ongoing card game in their suite and they amuse themselves with endless Snapchat sessions.
It'll be all business on Thursday night. They'll race against each other for the Final time in the 200-meter individual medley, ending a 13-year rivalry that has been one of the greatest in swimming history. The Americans are the top two all-time performers in the event.
Phelps and lochte have each medaled in the 200 IM in the last three Olympics. Phelps won each time and lochte finished second, third and second.
"The history him and I have had with one another, it's something special and something I've never had in another competitor of mine," Phelps said. "We'll have one more time to hop in the pool and duke it out."
Phelps is finally retiring after these games, where he has already won his 20th and 21st Gold medals. He'll try to become the first swimmer, male or female, to win the same event in four straight Olympics.
lochte has owned the 200 IM world record for seven years, but Phelps usually comes out on top against him. That's how it went four years ago in london, when Phelps won and lochte finished second. lochte beat Phelps in the 400 IM on the first day of swimming in london, his most notable victory on a big stage in their rivalry. "It's going to take a perfect performance in order to beat him just because of how tough a competitor he is," lochte said.