Even the most casual of sports fan is aware that Michael Phelps (sort of) swam against a shark, and even the most casual consumer of celebrity news knows Ryan Lochte is now the proud father of a baby boy.
Phelps and Lochte — the two most-decorated U.S. male Olympians ever — have for more than a decade been synonymous with the sport of swimming. They’ve transcended it, becoming household names as their medal counts and endorsement deals soared even when they ended up in headlines for the wrong reasons outside of the pool.
It’s hard to argue that the two figures — Phelps and his 23 gold medals in particular — have towered above the rest of the American male swimmers.