Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps Stage Showdown In Finals Of 200 IM

After 13 years of battling each other in the pool, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps will face off, perhaps for the final time, tonight in the final round of the 200 meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps Stage Showdown In Finals Of 200 IM

Lochte, an 11-time Olympic medalist has yet to qualify to compete in any individual events at the Rio Games next month.

LOCHTE BEATS PHELPS TO SET WORLD RECORD

A groin injury kept Lochte from the 400 IM, after he won gold in the event at the London Games in 2012. His fourth place finish in the 200 freestyle wasn’t enough to cinch a spot for Rio and he dropped out of the qualifying race for the 200 meter backstroke.

Two of the most decorated active athletes in American sport will signal the end of an era regardless of who reaches the the apex of the podium tonight.

Phelps, 32, has already declared he will retire after the close of the Rio Games.

“A hundred percent (Rio will be) the last one,” Phelps told reporters at a press conference back in December 2015. “This is 100 percent. We now have a kid coming and we’re building a family so I am stepping away and taking time to be with my family.”

PHELPS TOP 5 RACES

Lochte, 31, is currently the world record holder in the 200 IM, after finishing with a time of 1 minute, 49.63 seconds at the World Championships in 2011, according to the Olympian’s website.

He finished just ahead of Phelps in the semifinal heat Thursday, coming in at 1 minute, 56.71 seconds, while Phelps clocked in at 1:57.61.

“It means a lot,” Lochte said of the final showdown between the two. “I’ve been racing him in this event since, like, 2003. He’s a tough competitor. I just love racing against him because it’s a challenge.”

Lochte secured a spot on the Olympic roster in the 4x200m freestyle relay, but has yet to qualify in any individual events. The 100m fly presents another opportunity for Lochte, but he has far better chances to qualify for the event in which he’s held the world record for five years.

“Tomorrow night will definitely be a good battle between me and Michael,” Lochte said Thursday.

Phelps expects nothing less.

The most decorated Olympian in the history of the sport has already qualified in the 200m fly, but he is hungry to heap berths in the 100 fly and 200 IM for good measure.

Either way, it really boils down to one race.

“Him and I have gone back and forth a number of times in this race,” Phelps said of Lochte. “We’re going to be out and probably step on the gas a little bit more than we have in the past, and you’ll have an exciting race.”