"I Said It's Great To Be A Florida Gator!"

Gator Nation is everywhere! This time it's not in the football field or in the basketball court. It's in the pool. That's right. Ryan Lochte, the American swimmer is dominating at the FINA Worlds. In three events so far, he has come out with 2 golds and 1 bronze, and is looking to earn a few more golds.

Probably the most laid back guy anyone can ever meet. (come on, who has grills on every time they reach the podium) Lochte went to UF ( his father is a coach there) and now lives and trains in Gainseville. He broke about 7 records while he was a Gator and was one of the top swimmers in the nation in all of his four years in Florida. When he graduated, he was sponsored by Speedo and this is where the world found out who Ryan Lochte is.

Lochte made his Olympic debut in Athens 04 and won a gold medal in the 4x200 race in which they upset the favorite team from Australia. Then in the individual 200m medley, he won a silver medal just behind Michael Phelps. 4 years later he made the USA team and headed to Beijing. In four events that he competed, Lochte was able to go 4 for 4 in getting a medal. He won 2 gold medals and 2 bronze. One of them, he came behind Michael Phelps again.

In total, Ryan Lochte has won about 25 medals in world competition(in his professional career) and by the looks of it he is bound to win 25 more. A poll taken the other day in the FINA Worlds, 94% of the people voted Lochte as the 2nd best swimmer in all of the world. Behind of course, Michael Phelps. Many people say if Michael Phelps didn't swim, Lochte will be number one in the world, but Lochte says he is not intimidated by his rival and close friend Phelps. Lets see when London comes in 3 years, Lochte can shock the world and finally beat Michael Phelps in the greatest stage of all.

France vs. USA

We all remember that amazing comeback that Jason Lezak did to help the US men's 4x100m team to win the gold and keep Michael Phelps goal alive. Before that amazing relay race, the national team from France were doing a little trash talking about the US team. The announcer for the race even said he thought France will be the ones who would receive the gold medal. And it sure did, but the US team prevailed and stunned the whole world.

Now a summer later, the 2009 FINA world championship in Rome is taking place and the France team is looking for revenge. On Sunday the men's 4x100m took place and both France and the US were next to each other in the lanes. Could the French get the gold this time?

In the USA team, the only veteran was of course, Michael Phelps. He was the only one that was part of the team in the Olympics. The Americans added gold medalist Ryan Lochte, Matthew Grevers and 21 year old Nathan Adrian. No Jones, Lezak or Weber-Gale. Can the US hold on to the gold?

The day came and the US didn't disappoint with their rookie team. Coming in first place while the team from France came in third. I guess they can't get over that heart-breaking lost Beijing. Watch out for the young swimmers in the US for years to come. The team in locked and loaded with future stars.

WHY ISN'T KARATE AN OLYMPIC SPORT?

Why didn't the sport of Karate make the vote for the 2012 games in London? I mean Taekwondo is a Martial Art in the Olympics but it's just fighting and mainly with the use of your legs. Karate is probably practiced all over the world. The US has its own Karate Federation (USANKF, yes it is part of the USOC) and they compete in the Pan American Games, have world, National, State and Local Competitions. It is a fast growing sport with all the young kids in it and has many competitors. They take it very seriously and train hard enough with the goal and dream of being a World Champion. It is a very complex sport with 'Kata' and fast and exciting with 'Kumite'. Just imagine competitors from two different countries fighting against each other and the fans chanting the name of their respective country. It will be exciting for the fans that aren't really familiar with the competitive side of Karate and for the ones competing. I mean, who wouldn't like to represent their country and doing it with the sport they love and enjoy doing.