Prior to their big race on Thursday, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte were photographed eating spaghetti together while chilling out in cold tubs. After Lochte published the picture on his Instagram, NBC Olympics posted it to Twitter with the caption "Gotta load up on carbs before the big race!"
Aside from revealing the pair's secret to victory — it's no surprise that athletes need carbs — the snapshot reminds the world how adorable their camaraderie really is. They've been attending the Olympics together for years now, and even when they're about to compete against each other, they still manage to be friendly. Did I mention the two are also rooming together in Rio?
Technically, on Thursday night, Phelps and Lochte were rivals, set to compete against each other in the 200-meter individual medley. Greg Troy, the pair's former coach during the 2012 Olympics in London, told NBC that although they're pals, they also encourage each other to push harder. In other words, there's still some major competitiveness between the two.
"The competitive environment between those two guys has always been good," said Troy. "Even at their own testament, they both say they bring out the best in each other. And I think there's a mutual respect, but also they're very competitive and neither one wants to give in or go home."
On Thursday during the men's 200-meter individual medley, Phelps placed first again, taking home his fourth gold medal from the Rio games. Though he placed in the first heats and semifinal rounds, Lochte ultimately finished in fifth place. Still, having won 12 medals total in numerous Olympic games, Lochte's career is nothing short of impressive. This race could have been the pair's last "face-off," but they'll probably keep eating spaghetti together for years to come. At least we all hope so.
