Phelps & Lochte's Bromance Is Unreal

If there's one thing the Rio Olympics has been missing, it's more time with Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte together in the pool. In years past, they've been in constant competition, often with Phelps finishing first and Lochte taking home the silver. This year, the two are rooming together in the Olympic Village, but they're only in the pool together for two events. As this Tweet perfectly points out, we need a Phelps and Lochte "buddy comedy" — or at least, more documenting of their bromance — before the two retire from the sport. We're nearly done with Rio swimming, so now is the time.

Phelps and Lochte were both on the U.S. 4x200-meter freestyle relay team, which took home the gold on Tuesday night, allowing for some bromance hugs on the medals stand. They also kissed and bit their gold medals in unison quite nicely. But it just wasn't enough. Thursday might be your last chance for some official face time with the two. Now they face off against each for the final showdown — at least in Rio, but potentially for their careers — in the 200-meter individual medley. This will be the fourth Olympics in which they compete in this event, and Phelps won the last three.

Phelps has gotten lots of attention for returning for his fifth Games, but Lochte's four Olympics are nothing to sneeze at. Lochte has been right there with him since the 2004 games, but always coming in just behind Phelps in this 200-meter individual medley — only when swimming at the Olympics, though. Lochte still holds the world record in the 200-meter individual medley, which he set at a World Championship race in Shanghai in 2011 by a fraction of a second.

Now, 12 years after they competed in Athens, Phelps and Lochte have become good friends. Fellow Team USA swimmer and roommate Conor Dwyer explained how he sees their relationship and rivalry for The Chicago Tribune:

It’s definitely real when they step up on the blocks. But as far as being in the room and stuff, you would never know that those two guys have battled each other time and time and time again in the water. They’re just friends hanging out playing cards, nothing to do with how they’ve tried to kill each other to win a 200IM at the Olympics multiple times.

Perhaps these are the moments that would win bromance gold. A few of these choice moments have been captured on Instagram, like this one of Phelps wishing Lochte a happy birthday (neither are wearing shirts in the picture, if you notice).

It's sad to think that this could be the end — although one of them would have to retire for it to truly be over. Lochte said he was having too much fun training for the Rio Games to consider retiring just yet. And he's not ready for Phelps to throw in the towel, either. He doesn't think his teammate and rival is prepared to hang up his speedo.

Phelps retired after the London Olympics, only to return to the water about 18 months later. Lochte called it back then, and did so again in Rio. "I honestly don’t think this is going to be his last Olympics,” Lochte told The LA Times. “I’m saying he’s going to come back again.” Should the two both return, you might get more of the bromance you've always wanted.