Ryan Lochte does not think the Rio Games will be his "amazing" rival Michael Phelps' Olympic swansong.
Phelps retired after the London Games four years ago but opted to make a comeback and will compete in his fifth Olympics in Brazil this month. Lochte credits Phelps for taking the swimming to another level.
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Phelps, the most-decorated Olympian of all time and U.S. flag bearer in Friday's opening ceremony, insisted this will be his last Games, but Lochte thinks he could swim in Tokyo and spoke of his respect for the 31-year-old.
"He's changed the sport. He's made swimming bigger than what it was," said Lochte, a five-time gold medalist said. "And what he's done inside the pool and outside the pool, representing the USA, is just amazing.
"I don't think there is another athlete that can do that. To be a part of his team, and even swim in the same events and era with him is unbelievable."
Lochte welcomed the decision to pick Phelps, winner of 22 Olympic medals, to lead his compatriots into the Maracana.
He said: "There's no other better person than Michael to represent Team USA. It's just amazing everything he's done in the sport of swimming and for the USA. It's just tremendous what he's accomplished and there is no better person than Michael to represent us. So I'm really excited and I kind of want to steal that jacket."
Lochte won five medals in London, but the 32-year-old does not feel the expectancy on his shoulders this time around.
"The lead up to this Games for me personally is a lot different to 2012," he said. "I think I had more of a target on my back in 2012. But the past couple of years haven't been up to par for my standards.
"I think I'm the underdog now. Even though with what I have accomplished in the sport it doesn't seem that way, but for me personally I feel like I'm the underdog."
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