BARCELONA, Catalonia: Swim stars Missy Franklin and Ryan Lochte have said Team USA must build on the legacy left by pool legend Michael Phelps with swimming’s world championships to start tomorrow.
Phelps will only be a spectator at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi stadium after the 28-year-old retired last year having won a record 18th career Olympic gold medal at London 2012
In his wake, 18-year-old Franklin will be competing in eight events in Barcelona, having won four golds in London, while Lochte, 28, is scheduled to race in seven events over eight days.
Both have attracted comparisons to Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but they insist their compatriot is incomparable.
“Michael has his own legacy, I don’t think anyone will ever match it,” said Franklin, who will race in the 100m and 200m freestyle, all three backstroke events over 50m, 100m and 200m, plus three relays.
“He has created a path in swimming which is such a bright light and will continue to shine for years and years to come.
“His legacy speaks for itself and we have to try and create our own.”
Having enjoyed titanic battles with Phelps over the years, Lochte, who has won 12 world gold medals dating back to 2005, said he will miss his former rival, but has fresh competition to worry about.
“There is no doubt about it, Phelps is going to go down in history as the best swimmer ever,” said Lochte.
“I wish he could come back, I liked racing against him, it was fun.
“He has made this sport bigger than what it is.
“He was the hardest swimmer I ever had to go up against and we have grown into a really good friendship because of that.
“Am I going miss him? Yes, I always love a challenge and we pushed each other.
“Now that he has gone, I am definitely going to miss him stepping up on the blocks next to me, but it’s just not him I have to worry about.
“There are other people who are working hard to go even faster, I just have to work on myself and go as fast as I can.”
Phelps has repeatedly ruled out a return to the pool and Lochte will be defending the four world titles he won at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai.
Meanwhile, USA head coach David Salo said swimming’s governing body FINA had made a mistake by voting against using underwater cameras at future major events.
A FINA congress voted against proposals to allow officials to use underwater technology to check for any incorrect strokes.
At the 2012 London Olympics, South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh won the 100m breaststroke gold, but later admitted using illegal butterfly kicks during the race, which was confirmed by replays.
Salo said FINA had missed the chance to use technology at future Olympics and world championships to help eradicate issues with strokes, which had been highlighted by van der Burgh’s victory.
“I think it’s a mistake, we have got the technology to advance our sport and keep our sport appropriately governed,” said Salo.
He added yesterday: “I know in the United States, we are having a very difficult time developing officials, and the current ones are aging, there is enough technology around to keep our sport within the rules.” AFP
