Ryan Lochte reacts after breaking the world record in the men's 200-metre individual medley swimming at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai on July 28, 2011. (Photo by Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)
An Olympic year means a lot of things for swimmers. Long-course meets mean a little bit more to those trying to reach their first Olympic Trials cuts; national competitions get broadcast on network television along side major sports like football, basketball and baseball; and the rest of the nation tries to familiarize themselves with the faces of their new and returning Olympic heroes before they take center stage in London.
As swimmers, swim parents, and coaches, be prepared to answer questions such as “What is long-course?”, “What stroke comes first in the medley?”, and everyone's favorite “Who is that?” every time someone in a Team USA swim cap appears on television over the next six months.
Those questions could begin as early as tonight, with a new Gatorade commercial starring Ryan Lochte premiering tonight. Check it out here before it airs:
Go to facebook.com/gatorade to learn more about Ryan’s story.