It was a blowout. Even more stunning: Phelps didn't even win a medal.
United States swimmer Ryan Lochte dives off of the starting block during the men's 400-meter individual medley event during the 2012 Summer Olympics at the Aquatics Centre in London on Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Al Bello, Pool)LONDON (AP) -- Ryan Lochte turned his much-anticipated duel with Michael Phelps into a blowout, pulling away to win the Olympic 400-meter individual medley by more than 3 seconds Saturday night. Even more stunning: Phelps didn't even win a medal.
After barely qualifying for the evening final in a performance that hinted at trouble ahead, Phelps struggled to a fourth-place finish and was denied his 17th career medal. When it was done, he could barely pull himself out of the pool.
Brazil's Thiago Pereira took the silver, and Japan's Kosuke Hagino claimed the bronze -- beating Phelps by a barely comfortable 34-hundredths of a second for a spot on the podium.