Michael Phelps just beat Ryan Lochte, and it was the perfect ending to the best rivalry in swimming history

A 12-year-long rivalry has perhaps come to an end as Michael Phelps earned the gold medal for swimming the 200-meter individual medley (200m IM) at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

Though Lochte holds the world record for men's 200m IM with a time of one minute, 54 seconds (clocked in during the 2011 World Championships) he's never managed to replicate that performance at the Olympic level. Instead, Phelps has won the gold medal at each of the last three games, with Lochte finishing at either silver or bronze.  On August 11, Phelps completed the 200m IM a full two seconds ahead of his competitors. Lochte failed to medal after coming in fifth place.

"I just wish I did a little better," Lochte told NBC immediately following the race. 

Let's take a look back at the Phelps vs. Lochte rivalry in the 200m IM, starting at their very first appearance in the Olympics.