The London Olympic Games has set the stage for one of the fiercest rivalries in competition that will surely leave a lasting memory: Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte.
Michael Phelps, considered by most at the greatest swimmer ever, looks to add another gold medal to his current record of 14 Olympic gold medals.
With the win of his 14 Olympic gold at the Beijing Games, Phelps not only eclipsed legendary Olympian Mark Spitz, but also the Finnish long distance runner Pavo Nurmi and Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina, all of whom have a proud lifetime tally of nine gold medals at the Games.
Ryan Lochte, however, stamped his authority in the men's world of swimming just one year ahead of the 2012 London Olympics when he won five gold medals and a bronze at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai.
At 28-years-old, Lochte already has 47 top competition medals, including six Olympic (3 gold), 19 world championship long-course medals (12 gold, 7 individual) and 22 medals in short-course events (14 gold, 11 individual).
The rivalry between the two magnified at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai with Lochte coming out on top winning five gold medals, including victories over Phelps in the 200-metre freestyle and the 200 individual medley race.
The Olympics kickoff on July 27th.
Men and women's swimming competition is set to begin Saturday, July 28th.
Here's a full list of the rest of the American competitors for both men and women's competition.
Men:
Alex Meyer - 10K Open Water
Ryan Lochte - 200 Back, 200 IM, 400m IM, 200 Free, 800 Free Relay
Peter Vanderkaay - 400 Free
Brendan Hansen - 100 Breast
Michael Phelps - 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 800 Free Relay
Ricky Berens - 200 Free, 800 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay
Conor Dwyer - 400m Free, 800 Free Relay
Matt Grevers - 100 Backstroke, 400 Free Relay
Scott Weltz - 200 Breast
Clark Burckle - 200 Breast
Nathan Adrian - 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
Cullen Jones - 50 Free, 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
Eric Shanteau - 100 Breast
Nick Thoman - 100 Back
Tyler Clary - 200 Fly, 200 Back
Tyler McGill - 100 Fly
Anthony Ervin - 50 Free
Jason Lezak - 400 Free Relay
Jimmy Feigen - 400 Free Relay
Matt McLean - 800 Free Relay
Charlie Houchin - 800 Free Relay
Davis Tarwater - 800 Free Relay
Andrew Gemmell - 1500 Free
Connor Jaeger - 1500 Free
Women:
Haley Anderson - 10K Open Water
Elizabeth Beisel - 200 Backstroke, 400 IM
Dana Vollmer - 100 Fly, 800 Free Relay
Allison Schmitt - 400 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
Missy Franklin - 100 Free, 100m Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 Free, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
Breeja Larson - 100 Breaststroke
Lauren Perdue - 800 Free Relay
Caitlin Leverenz - 400 IM , 200m IM
Cammile Adams - 200 Fly
Kathleen Hersey - 200 Fly
Claire Donahue - 100 Fly
Chloe Sutton - 400 Free
Rachel Bootsma - 100 Back
Rebecca Soni - 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Ariana Kukors - 200 IM
Micah Lawrence - 200 Breast
Jessica Hardy - 50 Free, 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
Lia Neal - 400 Free Relay
Katie Ledecky - 800 Free
Kate Ziegler - 800 Free
Amanda Weir - 400 Free Relay
Natalie Coughlin - 400 Free Relay
Shannon Vreeland - 800 Free Relay
Alyssa Anderson - 800 Free Relay
Kara Lynn Joyce - 50 Free
