Ryan Lochte And Michael Phelps: A Bromance In 13 Photos

Lots of powerful relationships are made at the Olympics. But perhaps none is more significant than the swimmers that together make Phelpte.

1. Relationships can develop a push-pull quality when partners are in the throes of an Olympic bromance AND fiercely competitive at the same time.

Here Lochte may pull away, but Phelps, perhaps drawn by inexplicable force, eagerly floats forth to his man.

Image by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty Images

2. The convenient part about being Olympic swimming bros is always having someone around to be straight with you.

“I don’t have that embarrassing goggles mark on my forehead, do I?”

Image by Al Bello / Getty Images

3. Or just do the things you love to do with you. Like the backstroke.

Image by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty Images

4. Or comfort you when you look down.

“Tweet me a #JEAH later, will you, Phelpsie? Rough day.”

Image by Al Bello / Getty Images

5. But at the end of a match, Phelpte knows knows the other is just a plastic floating rope away.

“Bro, tell me when the camera turns away so I can stop making my sexy face.”

Image by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty Images

6. Even this distance can be hard, however, when things get particularly stressful.

“You know, I’m really getting sick of your sexy face. It’s like your only face.”

Image by Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

7. With no rope between them, will the competition rip them apart?

“M.P., how many times I gotta say it? I need to make people think I’m sexy so they buy my sunnies. God bro.”

Image by LEON NEAL / Getty Images

8. Or will they get out of the pool and be best friends again?

*Grunting*

Image by Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images

9.

“Fine. I still love you.”

Image by Mike Hewitt / Getty Images

10. Tension arises when Phelpte’s attention goes heavily to just one party.

“Ruin my shot if you want to but you still have no idea what you’re doing.”

Image by MARTIN BUREAU / Getty Images

11.

“I told you it’s better when you hold your own flag!!!”

Image by Mark J. Terrill / AP

12. Ultimately, love brings them together in the end.

“Yo how many times I gotta tell you? Out of my way so I can touch Magic Mike, gosh.”

Image by Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

13. Until Tyler Clary steals Ryan away.

Hey. It happens to hot people all the time.

Image by Matt Slocum / AP