“I’m just trying to get through everything,” Phelps said. “It’s a lot of racing and it’s not easy.”

Swimming one heat earlier, Lochte finished with the fastest time of 1:58.15. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, already a silver medalist behind Phelps in the 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly, was third overall in 1:58.79. The semifinals are Thursday morning, followed by Friday’s final.

“Michael is a really good swimmer,” Cseh said. “[He’s] a big talent and he can beat everyone.”

But some believe Phelps isn’t invincible. Lochte is one of the few who isn’t intimidated by Phelps, even though the friendly rivalry is more like what Navy’s football team has done to Army in recent seasons.

“I was that close at trials,” Lochte said. “It’s no different. It’s just another swim meet. It’s just another race I’m going to have.”

In the opening event of these games, Phelps won the 400 individual medley and Lochte finished third while bothered by a stomach virus.

“I feel a lot better,” he said. “I feel like I got my strength back.”

Phelps claimed two more gold medals earlier in the day, making him 5-for-5, with world records each time. Overall, his 11 career gold medals stamped him as the winningest Olympian in history. He’s also trying to take down Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds in a single games.

But not everyone wants to see the history books rewritten.

“If he gets eight medals, it’s amazing,” Lochte said. “If he doesn’t, it means somewhere along I did something. Hopefully, I can do that.”

Phelps, however, has shown he can deal with adversity. He won the 200 butterfly in the morning despite being blinded when his goggles filled with water.

“I just got a new pair,” he said. “Today I’m trying to put behind me and get ready for tomorrow. Those next three ones are pretty important events.”

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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