'I am not coming back in four years'

Michael Phelps debunked Ryan Lochte's theory that he will swim again at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 by insisting that Friday night's 100-meter butterfly final was the last individual race of his career.

Lochte had previously speculated that despite Phelps having announced his plans to retire, that the swim legend would again return to try to dominate the pool.

"I will just clarify that Ryan doesn't know what he is talking about," Phelps said, after he tied for second with Laszlo Cseh of Hungary and South Africa's Chad le Clos, well behind Singaporean gold medalist Joseph Schooling. "I am not coming back in four years."

Phelps will represent the United States in the 4x100-meter medley relay on Saturday in what will be his last race of a career that has brought him a remarkable 22 gold medals, the most ever by an Olympian.

"I have two laps left in my career so I am happy and I'm excited and looking forward to tomorrow. I saw (what Lochte said) and I was like 'thanks Ryan, throw me back out there for another four years.' If he wants to come back it will be great."

Phelps said he will be in Tokyo for the Olympics, but only as a spectator. He praised Schooling, 21, whose victory on Friday was a major upset.

"It will be fun (for me) to watch, " Phelps added. "This sport will be fun over the next four years to see how it transitions. There are a lot of young kids and they show how much talent they have here."

-USA TODAY