[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING OLYMPIC ATHLETE RYAN LOCHTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM FEENEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 2004

  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I note the 
Olympic accomplishments of Ryan Lochte, a constituent of mine from Port 
Orange, Florida.
  For swimmers, the Olympics represent the ultimate contest. No other 
swimming meet rises to that level of competition. In his first Olympic 
event, 20-year-old Ryan Lochte earned the gold.
  That event was the Men's 4 x 200 meter Freestyle Relay--one of the 
most exciting finishes in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Here, the underdog 
American team of Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, and 
Klete Keller faced an Australian team that dominated this event for 
several years.
  After Michael Phelps gave the Americans a one-second lead in the 
first leg, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay extended that lead to 1.5 
seconds. But Klete Keller faced the Australian legend Ian Thorpe who 
proceeded to cut into that lead. However, Klete Keller rose to that 
challenge. As a capacity crowd rose to its feet for the finish, Klete 
Keller touched the wall 0.13 seconds ahead of the Australian. And Ryan 
Lochte and his teammates won the gold.
  Two days later, Ryan Lochte competed in the Men's 200 meter 
Individual Medley. He came out of the final turn fifth in a field of 
eight. But in those last 50 meters, Ryan--swimming the freestyle, his 
best stroke--passed three swimmers to capture the silver and turn in 
his career-best time of 1:58.78.
  Two proud and sacrificing parents contributed to Ryan's success. His 
father--Steven Lochte--is a nationally-recognized swimming coach and 
coaches the Spruce Creek High School team and the Daytona Beach Speed 
club team. Mr. Lochte pursues an untraditional coaching style that 
develops young swimmers at a gradual pace. Thus, his proteges blossom 
at the critical age of late teens and early 20s and avoid the burnout 
experienced by many young athletes. Mr. Lochte personally witnessed his 
son's feats in Athens.
  Ryan's mother--Ileana Lochte--taught Ryan how to swim. She's a 
typical swim team mother who has traveled to hundreds of meets and been 
her son's biggest cheerleader. Ms. Lochte stayed home when Ryan went to 
Athens because school had started for Ryan's younger siblings. But she 
was standing by the pool at the Port Orange YMCA when her cell phone 
rang with the news of Ryan's gold medal win.
  Ryan adds to the Gator legacy while attending the University of 
Florida and is an 11 time All American swimmer. He has brought much 
pride to his family, teammates, and his community.

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