Michael Phelps

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USA's Michael Phelps competes in a heat of the men's 400-meter individual medley at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

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Ryan Lochte (left) took home five gold medals from the world championships in Shanghai last year, and Baltimore area native Michael Phelps collected eight golds from the Beijing Games in 2008. The rivalry continues when the U.S. Olympic swimming team hits the water in London, and Phelps already has announced he will retire after the games. (Associated Press)

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In this photo provided by Sports Illustrated, U.S. swimmer and all-time Olympian Michael Phelps is seen with his eight gold medals, posing exclusively for the Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2008 edition of Sports Illustrated in a photo taken on Aug. 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. At age 23, Phelps owns 16 Olympic medals, 14 of which are gold. The Aug. 25 issue hits newsstands on Wednesday, Aug. 20. (AP Photo/Sports Illustrated, Simon Bruty)

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Michael Phelps (top) and Ryan Lochte will dominate the headlines in swimming and just may be the biggest attraction of the London Games. (Associated Press)

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Michael Phelps (pictured) made waves throughout the Beijing Games in 2008 when he brought home eight gold medals, a feat that was prominently displayed on a cover for Sports Illustrated. His first Olympics came as a 15-year-old in 2000. Ryan Lochte (below), who will turn 28 on Aug. 3, has yet to achieve Phelps’ level of Olympic greatness, but he isn’t lacking in confidence. (Associated Press)