Speedo announced the signing of former University of Florida swimmer Ryan Lochte on Wednesday. Lochte, a native of Daytona Beach, Fla., completed his collegiate career in March at the NCAA Championships by winning the 200 individual medley, 400 IM and 200 backstroke titles all in NCAA and American record times. Lochte also set the NCAA 100 back record while swimming the opening leg of the 400 medley relay. His seven career NCAA titles are the most by any male swimmer in school history.
During his sophomore season, Lochte won his first NCAA title in the 400 IM. He followed up in 2005 by winning the 200 back and 200 IM and was part of the winning 800 free relay team.
In four years Lochte has re-written the Gator record books by claiming the top times in seven individual events. He holds the Florida record in the 100 free (42.56), 200 free (1:33.07), 100 back (44.60), 100 fly (46.02), 200 IM (1:40.55) and 400 IM (3:38.15). Lochte was also a part of four record-setting relay teams during the 2005 season (400 FR, 800 FR, 200 MR and 400 MR).
Lochte has also been a major force on the international swimming scene since his two-medal performance at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He won gold as a member of the United States' 800-meter free relay team and earned a silver medal individually in the 200 IM. At the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal, Lochte again earned a gold medal as part of the United State's 400 free relay team.
Recently Lochte solidified himself as the world's premiere short course swimmer by winning three gold medals at the World Short Course Championships in Shanghai, China this past April. He set three world records and took home four medals in the process. Lochte earned gold in 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 back, and set the world record in the 100 back while swimming the opening leg in the 400 MR. He also earned a bronze medal as a member of the 400 free relay team.
Lochte earned several high-profile honors for his efforts in the pool. He was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year twice (2005-2006) and joined former Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel as the only student-athletes in school history to be named the Roy Kramer Southeastern Conference Male Athlete of the Year in 2005. Lochte was named the SEC Male Swimmer of the year three times and was the High Point winner at the SEC Championships and U.S. Open in four consecutive years.
Lochte plans to continue his studies at the University of Florida in the fall while training for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Ryan Lochte Accomplishments
Olympic Medals
2004 Olympic Gold Medalist 800 FR
2004 Olympic Silver Medalist 200 IM
World Championships
2006 Short Course World Champion 200 IM
2006 Short Course World Champion 400 IM
2006 Short Course World Champion 200 Backstroke
2005 World Champion 400 FR
NCAA Titles
2006 NCAA Champion 200 IM
2006 NCAA Champion 400 IM
2006 NCAA Champion 200 Backstroke
2005 NCAA Champion 200 Backstroke
2005 NCAA Champion 200 IM
2005 NCAA Champion 800 FR
2004 NCAA Champion 400 IM
SEC Titles
2006 SEC Champion 200 IM
2006 SEC Champion 100 Butterfly
2006 SEC Champion 200 Butterfly
2005 SEC Champion 200 Backstroke
2005 SEC Champion 200 IM
2005 SEC Champion 400 IM
2004 SEC Champion 400 IM
Awards and Honors
24-Time All-American
2006 NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year
2006 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year
2005 NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year
2005 SEC Male Athlete of the Year
2005 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year
2005 Florida Men's Amateur Athlete of the Year
2003 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year
2003 SEC Male Freshman of the Year
Career Best Times:
Short Course (Yards)
50 Free 19.90s (Auburn, 01/21/06)
100 Free 42.56 (2005 SEC Championships)
200 Free 1:33.07 (2005 SEC Championships)
500 Free 4:21.07 (Purdue, 11/20.05)
1,650 Free 14:55.03 (2005 SEC Championships)
100 Back 44.60s (2006 NCAA Championships)
200 Back 1:37.68 (2006 NCAA Championships)
100 Fly 46.02 (2006 SEC Championships)
200 Fly 1:42.39 (2006 SEC Championships)
100 Breast 55.74 (LSU, 01/12/06)
200 Breast 2:03.52 (Florida Atlantic, 11/11/05)
200 IM 1:40.55 (2006 NCAA Championships)
400 IM 3:38.15 (2006 NCAA Championships)
Long Course (Meters)
200 Free 1:48.65 (2004 U.S. Olympic Trials)
1,500 Free 15.28.37 (2004 U.S. Olympic Trials)
200 IM 1:57.79 (2005 World Championships)
400 IM 4:13.67 (2005 World Championships)
200 Back 1:57.00 (2005 World Championships)
