Men take silver behind France

Staff report

LONDON

Ryan Lochte grabbed at the edge of the pool, head down, staring at the water. Michael Phelps glared at the scoreboard, trying to digest the first silver medal of his Olympic career.

Right beside them, the French celebrated.

It was just like 2008, but with the roles reversed.

This time, it was France chasing down the United States -- and Lochte, no less -- to win another riveting relay at the Olympics.

“We got our revenge,” French swimmer Clement Lefert said.

With Phelps looking much stronger than he did the night before, the Americans built a commanding lead over the first three legs of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay Sunday and never really had to worry about the defending world champions from Australia.

When Lochte dove into the water on the anchor leg, he was a half-body length ahead of the field and looking to add another gold to his dominating victory Saturday in the 400 individual medley.

Yannick Agnel, playing the chaser role that Jason Lezak did for the Americans four years ago in this same event, sliced through the water and was right on Lochte’s shoulder as they made the flip at the far end of the pool. With about 25 meters to go, they were stroke for stroke. But Lochte, who had already competed in 1,200 meters of racing over the first two days, simply didn’t have enough left to hold off the towering, 20-year-old Frenchman, one of the sport’s real rising stars.

Phelps settled for his 17th career medal and completed his collection of Olympic colors, adding a silver to his 14 golds and two bronzes. He also moved a step closer to becoming the most decorated Olympian ever, just one away from tying the mark for most career medals held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. Phelps has five events to go.

“At least I’m in a medal today,” Phelps said ruefully, referring to a fourth-place finish in his first race of the London Games.

Phelps put up the fastest time among the American swimmers, covering the second 100 in 47.15. Nathan Adrian swam the leadoff leg in 47.89, going out faster than Australian star James “The Missile” Magnussen to give the U.S. an early lead. Cullen Jones was solid, too, in the third spot (47.60). Lochte was handed a lead of more than a half-second, but he couldn’t hold it. Agnel covered the final leg in 46.74, while Lochte labored home in 47.74.