Gold medalist Lochte back in pool

ATLANTA — With a demeanor best suited for a surfboard, Ryan Lochte always sounds a bit detached from the realities of life.

So, it shouldn't be a surprise when the 24-year-old swimmer exhibits something of a disconnect between how well he performed in Beijing — two gold medals, two bronzes, a couple of world records and the first individual title of his Olympic career — and how he perceives it nearly four months later.

"I honestly don't remember me winning that gold," Lochte said, standing alongside the pool at Georgia Tech early Wednesday evening. "I honestly still think it hasn't happened. I mean, when people say, 'I can't believe you got that gold medal,' I'm like, 'I did? Woooaaa.'"

Not that he hasn't enjoyed the spoils of victory.

Since his triumph in China, Lochte has been on a whirlwind of publicity appearances and photo shoots. He had a street named after him in his native Florida. He was feted on court alongside Dwight Howard before the Orlando Magic's season opener. He went on television with Oprah, played in a celebrity golf tournament and treated himself to a custom-made luxury watch.

"They put 15.2 carats of diamonds in it," Lochte said, breaking into that mischievous smile of his. "That kind of set me back a little."

But now it's time to get serious again.

He'll compete at the U.S. Short Course Nationals in Atlanta beginning Thursday, trying to gauge how far he's fallen behind during the longest break of his career — and trying not to be distracted by his alma mater, Florida, facing top-ranked Alabama in the Southeastern Conference football championship game on Saturday, about two miles away at the Georgia Dome.

"I can't wait for the game," he said. "I think Florida's going to wipe them out."

Until now, Lochte usually took off no more than two weeks a year from his rigorous training schedule. But the months after Beijing were set aside to capitalize on the realities of commerce — a gold medal winner must seize the moment in the afterglow of a successful Olympics — and to enjoy the perks of being someone who now gets recognized on the streets.

"People notice me a lot more," said Lochte, who will be competing in just his second meet since the Olympics. "For instance, I was in the middle of New York City and someone came up to me and said, 'Are you Ryan Lochte?' I was like, 'How do you know that? Are you serious?' It's cool, but it's really weird. I can't even imagine what it's like for someone like Michael Phelps. But it's fun. I like it. It's definitely different."

Outside of Phelps, Lochte might just be the best male swimmer in the world. He certainly shed his title of "Mr. Runner-up" with a world record in the 200-meter backstroke, a memorable Olympic duel with American teammate and rival Aaron Peirsol.

Lochte also was part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set another world record and gave Phelps one of his eight gold medals in Beijing. He trailed Phelps in the 200 and 400 individual medleys, settling for bronze in both events, though there's no cause for shame when you've been bested by the greatest swimmer the world has ever known.

Afterward, Lochte didn't worry so much about what he ate, how much he trained or getting to his next drug test (he admitted missing a couple of tests because of scheduling problems, but insists he wasn't on the verge of being suspended as was originally reported).

He tips the scales at about 205 pounds — heavier than he's ever been in his life and about 15 pounds more than his usual swimming weight. He's eager to ditch the jiggly skin and reclaim that strong, sleek feeling he has when he's at his best.

"I started getting fat," Lochte said, exaggerating matters just a bit. "I lost all my muscle. I'm like, 'Man, I've got to get back into shape.'"

He's eased back into his training schedule, setting aside about one hour a day instead of the usual seven he put in during the months leading up to the Olympics.

But this short-course meet, held in a 25-yard pool rather than the 50-meter one used in major international meets, should provide a telling indication of where he is and how much work his body needs before the next big landmark on the schedule — next summer's world championships in Rome. He's entered in six events, ranging from the 50 free to three 200 events: the IM, back and free.

"I don't want to call this training. This is just me getting my butt kicked at a swim meet," Lochte quipped. "I know how bad this meet in going to hurt for me."

His coach, Gregg Troy, said Lochte isn't as far away from his peak as he's leading everyone to believe. He's surely not some beer-bellied couch potato, putting aside the TV remote long enough to swim six events over a three-day meet.

"I don't think he's in horrible shape," Troy said. "He's just not where he's used to being."

They'll try out some new events and new training methods, all with an eye toward honing his schedule for the 2012 London Games.

"We haven't eliminated anything yet," Troy said. "I'm going to give him input and then rely on his decisions. He's versatile enough that I don't think there's many events he can't swim on the world scale. It's just how successful he wants to be on world scale. He's got to be a little selective."

Lochte hopes to swim in four Olympics, which would take him through 2016, and insists he can maintain the competitive fire that served him so well during all those years finishing second to Phelps and Peirsol — even though he's now got an individual gold of his own.

"I've always had that competitive edge. I'll never lose that," Lochte said. "I'll never get a big head. I'll always be hungry. I'll always be wanting more."

Time to get serious again.