Where the Men go from here: U.S. Swimming after Michael Phelps

   Clearly the greatest swimmer and arguably the greatest Olympian of all time is gone from swimming. Though some cling to hopes that Michael Phelps will find some kindling to restart his fire for the sport he has blessed for so many years, the truth of the matter is that he will not be returning to a competitive pool let alone an Olympic pool four years from now. 

   So who exactly will pick up the slack for men's swimming? Who will draw Americans to their TVs to watch guys swim a few laps in that first week of the quadrennial world event?

   One has already tried, and although he was highly successful for a normal Olympian, Ryan Lochte failed miserably in his goal to dethrone Phelps. In fact, if anything he reaffirmed the greatness Phelps had displayed in Beijing (2008) and Athens (2004) as he paled in comparison to the performances of Phelps while swimming a similar program. 

   The fact of the matter may be that no one man will be able to. It will take a combination of all the members of the 2016 Olympic team, including the will be 31 year old Lochte, break through sprinter Nathan Adrian, as well as promising Conor Dwyer and veterans like sprinter Cullen Jones and backstroke specialist Matt Grevers.  These men and others that will no doubt rise before Rio will have to carry the torch. 

   Two ways they can do this:

1. Continue American domination of relays (2 of 3 this in London and a sweep in Beijing).

2. Specialize in your event. Yes, Ryan Lochte that means you. He and Grevers could win their respective distances in Rio, Nathan Adrian looks poised to become a powerhouse in the 100m freestyle and will most likely anchor both the 4x100 Medley and Free relays. Tyler Clary may be the next butterfly champ in the U.S. now that Phelps is gone and will also be the returning Olympic champ in the 200m backstroke. The cabinet looks a little bare in the breaststroke as Brendan Hansen career is also most likely over but who knows what can happen in four years.

   There will most likely never be another swimmer like Michael Phelps, but just because the man that won 4+ gold medals in three different Olympics doesn't mean the Americans can't win just as many golds without him. But they will have to do it collectively, with each man starring in one or two events rather than trying to do it all like only swimming's renaissance man Phelps could.