Ryan Lochte (born August 3, 1984 in Canandaigua, NY) is an American world record swimmer who won medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Lochte specializes in the backstroke and individual medley, but is also a freestyle relay swimmer. He currently (March 2007) holds the world record in the 200 m Backstroke. He is noted for the speed and distance he attains while kicking underwater. He is noted for his rivalries with fellow Americans and world record holders Michael Phelps in the individual medley events and Aaron Peirsol in the backstroke races.

Lochte made his Olympic debut after finishing second to Phelps in the 200 m individual medley at the US trials. He also qualified for the 4x200 m freestyle relay team. At the Olympics, Lochte combined with Phelps, Klete Keller and Peter Vanderkaay to upset the Australian team and capture the gold medal. He also narrowly edged out George Bovell and Laszlo Cseh in the 200 m individual medley to claim silver, behind Phelps.

Later that year at the 2004 FINA Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis, Lochte claimed silver and bronze in the 200 m individual medley and freestyle respectively. He also added a gold in the 4x200 m freestyle relay.

At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada, Lochte claimed double bronze in the 200 m backstroke and individual medley, and was a part of the 4x200 m freestyle relay team which set an American record along the way to winning gold.

At the 2006 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Lochte won individual titles in all three of his individual events, claiming U.S. Open and American records in the 200 yard individual medley and the 200 yard backstroke and broke Tom Dolan's nearly decade old NCAA record in the 400 yard individual medley. He set another U.S. Open and American record in the 100 yard backstroke leading off the 4x100 yard medley relay for the University of Florida Gators. It is worth noting that this time was faster the record in the 100 yard butterfly at the time, a rare occurrence. The record in the 100 yard fly has since been lowered under Lochte's backstroke record. He went on to win swimmer of the meet for his senior year.

Just two weeks later, at the 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships he would repeat these same events, claiming world titles in the same events he won at the NCAA championships and claim world records in the same events he for which he claimed American records. He won two individual events in the 200 m individual medley and the 200 m backstroke, setting new world records in both events. He also set another world record in the 100 m backstroke, in the opening leg of the 4x100 m medley relay, becoming the first man to complete the distance in under 50 seconds. He won a third gold medal in the 400 m individual medley, setting a new American record. He was named as the male swimmer of the meet by FINA.

Other accomplishments in 2006 include breaking the 11-year old SEC record in the 100 butterfly previously held by John Hargis. After finishing his fourth year of eligibility with the Gators, he was sponsored by Speedo along with Katie Hoff and Kate Ziegler.

At the FINA 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Lochte won his first individual gold medal at a long course world championship in the 200 m backstroke against American Aaron Peirsol, breaking his world record and his seven-year winning streak in the event. The last time he had lost this race was to Lenny Krayzelburg at the 2000 Summer Olympics. This race marked his first world record in a long course event, despite numerous short course world records and a seemingly endless streak of silvers and close finishes to world record holders Michael Phelps in the individual medley events and Peirsol in the backstroke races. He went on to set a world record in the 4x200 freestyle relay with Michael Phelps, Klete Keller, and Peter Vanderkaay. He also earned silver medals in the 100 m backstroke, the 200 m IM, and the 400 m IM, making his medal total for the meet second to only Phelps.

Within a week of the world championships, Lochte competed in the annual Mutual of Omaha Duel in the pool where he upset the backstroke king again. In the 100 meter backstroke, he snapped Peirsol's other seven-year winning streak in the shorter of the backstroke races, edging out the world record holder by .06 seconds.

He graduated from the University of Florida, where he swam for the University in NCAA competition. He currently lives and trains in Gainesville, Florida with the gators.