Ryan Lochte

Swimmer

Ryan Lochte is the free-spirited American backstroke specialist who won two medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and three at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The son of a swim coach, Lochte began swimming as a kid and soon developed a reputation as an eager competitor in the pool and a loosey-goosey prankster outside of it. He took his whimsical intensity to the University of Florida, and was a student there when he won his Athens gold medal as part of the American 800-meter relay team and finished second to Michael Phelps in the 200-meter individual medley. He then set world records in the 200-meter backstroke in both 25-meter pool (2006) and 50-meter pool (2007) versions, while continuing a spirited rivalry with Phelps. At Beijing, Lochte won gold in the 200-meter backstroke and bronze medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter IM.

Extra credit: Lochte has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on the inside of his right bicep.

Another famous University of Florida swimmer is Dara Torres.