30 July,2012 08:39 AM IST | | IANS
Friends they may be, but after Saturday's showing they may not now be rivals.
Lochte powered home to gold, ahead of Brazil's Thiago Pereira and Japanese swimmer, Kosuko Hakino, with Olympic Champion and 14-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps finishing fourth.
Lochte celebrates after winning gold on Saturday. PIC/AFP
Given the shockwaves caused by Phelps' inability to win a medal, Lochte faces as many questions about his friend and rival as he did about his own magnificent win.
"I'm surprised he didn't get a medal, but he gave it everything he has," said Lochte about Phelps, before praising Phelps' sportsmanship.
"After the race he came to me in the massage area and congratulated me on keeping 400 medley for the US," he added.
