Former Gator swimmer Ryan Lochte honored by state legislature

Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte was recognized on the floor of the state capitol on Wednesday for his accomplishments.

The Daytona Beach was recognized based on House Resolution 9085 honoring Lochte. It was filed by State Representative Dwayne Taylor (D-Volusia).

Locht is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, who has won six Olympic medals and six world medals. He holds the world record for the 200-meter backstroke, which he set at the Beijing Olympics last year

He is part of USA Olympic team record-holders for the 800-meter relay set in Beijing. A graduate of UF, he was a two-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year.  

[Associated Press photo]

Lochte joins Phelps on magazine cover

Michael Phelps and former Gator Ryan Lochte aren't just swimming rivals.They're very close friends.

In the August issue of Men's Journal, which is on newsstands now, the magazine not only put them on the cover, but chronicled that friendship in an article about the two phenomenal athletes. You can read about the duo HERE. In the intro, the publication writes that "it's their intense rivalry that sets the stage for what promises to be the single greatest race at the Beijing games."

You can see a clip of Lochte in action below.

Lochte and Torres to be honored at football game

GAINESVILLE -  Former Gators Ryan Lochte and Dara Torres will be honored during the Troy vs. Florida football game.  The two will appear on the field during the first time out of the second quarter.

Lochte won the 2007 World Championship in the 200-meter back in world record time. He later went on to win his second gold of the meet as part of the world record smashing 800 free relay.  Lochte followed up the world championships with two national championships at the 2007 ConocoPhillips National Championships.

Torres was the story of this year’s ConocoPhillips National Championships, winning the 50 and 100 free events. She broke the American record in the 50 free, returning to competitive swimming after
a seven year layoff and 17 months after giving birth to her daughter.

Gators Honored By SEC

  GAINESVILLE - Longtime swimming coach Gregg Troy was named the SEC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year on Wednesday. It is the third coach of the year honor for Troy, who also won in 2000 and 2002.

  "I'm honored for this award, which is a reflection of our entire coaching staff,'' Troy said.   

  Also, freshman Roland Rudolf of Budapest, Hungary, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. At the 2007 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship, Rudolf earned a pair of silver medals after posting career-best and automatic qualifying times in the 200 back (1:43.54) and 500 free (4:17.90) events. He also set a personal-best and provisional-qualifying time of 1:37.62 in the B-Final of the 200 free to place second in his heat. Rudolf swam the anchol leg of the men's 800 freestyle relay that recorded a nation-best time of 6:22.31 to win the Gators' sixth-straight title in the 800 free relay. He also swam the final leg of the 400 free relay that earned second place (2:55.56).

  "Roland had a great season, but we had a handful of freshmen who were also candidates for this honor,'' Troy said. "There are many talented freshmen competing in the SEC, and it should make future meets that much more exciting.''

 

   

Rudolf National Swimmer of the Week

  GAINESVILLE - Freshman Roland Rudolf was named the Division I men's National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com following last weekend's performance in which he won four individual events and earned three NCAA provisional qualifying standards.

  On Jan. 20, Rudolf helped lead the Gators to a sweep of the backstroke events in a tri-meet against Alabama and South Carolina with a career-best time of 49.93. He won the 200 backstroke with an NCAA provisional time of 1:46.79.

  On Jan. 19 against Auburn, he earned first-place in the 200 back in 1:45.24 and won the 500 free  in 4:24.14. He won second in the 200 free with a personal-best 1:38.19.

  Rudolf is the second Florida swimmer to earn NCSW honors this season, joining sophomore Lucas Salatta who won the award on Oct. 25. Florida is the only school in the nation this year to have two different swimmers honored as National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week.