It is widely believed — and stated by the man himself — that Rio 2016 will be Michael Phelps’s final Olympics. Ryan Lochte doesn’t think so.
In two separate interviews on Friday, Lochte predicted that he’d be seeing Phelps in Tokyo in 2020.
First, Lochte went as far as to guarantee on the Today Show that Phelps isn’t finished as a competitive swimmer.
“I guarantee he will be there,” Lochte said, via A.J. Perez of USA Today. “I think so. I really think so. So, Michael, I’ll see you in Tokyo.”
Lochte doubled down later in an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show.
“I was the only person who said this back in 2012 when he said he was retiring, and I was right,” Lochte said. “And I’m going say it again that he’s going to come back for 2020.”
In both interviews, Lochte also seemed to confirm that he intends to try to make it to Tokyo as well.
Interestingly, Phelps’s mother, Debbie, also told the Today Show that there was seemingly a chance of Phelps making another run at Olympic gold.
“That would be wonderful,” Debbie Phelps said. “I already have the race picked out.”
Phelps would be 35 in 2020, which makes it a big ask. Still, Phelps remains as good as ever, and he did say he was done after London 2012. Maybe he will go back on that one last time.
H/T CBS Sports
