He swam head-to-head against Phelps in a USA Swimming Grand Prix event in Mesa, Ariz., in April. Phelps, who was 28 and recently had returned to the sport after a brief retirement, and his former Olympic teammate Ryan Lochte, then 29, took the top spots in the 100-meter butterfly. Lynch came in fourth, about a second and a half behind them, astonishing for a 17-year-old more than a decade younger than the Olympians. The meet defined Lynch as the event’s torch-carrier.
For Lynch, achieving so much so early in his career is a blessing and a curse. The grueling Berkeley swim schedule, on top of academics, and combined with almost impossible expectations, could be a recipe for burnout.
“My biggest challenge in the coming years will be staying motivated,” he said. “For me, I’m just thrilled to be able to train with a coach who really knows the details that can make the difference.”
He’ll spend the next two years in training, hoping to make the cut for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The games will come around right as Lynch hits 20, which is considered a peak age for male swimmers at the 100-meter distance. A chance for a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly would come with opportunities to break two more Phelps marks — the Olympic record and the world record.
Shannon Sims is a writer, photographer and lawyer living in Brazil, and a recent Forest & Society Fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs. Follow her: @simssh.
Article Appeared @http://www.npr.org/2014/10/02/353131594/at-16-this-swimmer-broke-michael-phelps-record-whats-next