In 2012, Michael Phelps edged teammate Ryan Lochte to win the Olympic men’s 200-meter individual medley. Phelps touched in 1:54.27, while Lochte took silver in 1:54.90, a winning margin of 0.63 seconds.
The victory gave Phelps his 16th Olympic gold medal and his 20th Olympic medal overall. It also made him the first male swimmer to win the same individual Olympic event at three consecutive Games, following his victories in the 200-meter individual medley at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Lochte was a major rival and teammate, so the race is sometimes confused with the 400-meter individual medley earlier in the London program. Lochte won that event, while Phelps finished fourth. In the 200-meter race, however, Phelps controlled the final and held off Lochte on the freestyle leg. Hungary’s László Cseh finished third.