Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Locthe – Where to Watch Online NBC Olympics (VIDEO)

By Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, July 28, 2012

All eyes are on 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and his rival/teammate Ryan Lochte, who has three gold medals of his own and is current world record holder in several events that Phelps excels in. No doubt, Phelps vs. Locthe in the pool is what people worldwide are holding their breath to see. So where can people watch the two swimming superstars go head-to-head?

NBC has the rights to cover the London Olympics, and it is providing live coverage of the sports online here. Viewers can also try to catch select events on the TV listing section here.

For swimming, the preliminary heats for men's 400-meter Individual Medley (IM) with Phelps and Locthe already took place earlier today, but one can watch the replay here. But the highly anticipated race where Phelps goes head-to-head with Locthe, who holds the world record in the 400-m IM, will be shown online here at 7:26 pm ET.

For those who want to watch Saturday's swimming events on TV, more qualifying heats from Day 1 of swimming will be broadcasted on NBC from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET. But the big swimming events, the finals that include the men's 400-m IM, will be part of primetime coverage from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. ET on NBC. NBC primetime Olympic coverage will also include gymnastics and beach volleyball.

Phelps and Locthe, as well as most of the Olympic swimmers from other countries, chose not to participate in the Olympic opening ceremony Friday night because they had to compete on Saturday morning and wanted to be well rested. During interviews, Phelps explained that if he attended the ceremony he would have to be on his feet for four hours and that would take a toll on his body when he had to compete the next morning.

"I will not be walking at opening," Phelps said Wednesday at a Speedo event. "I'm planning on walking in closing."

"That is one of the downfalls swimmers have of competing early in the Olympics," he said, "but I kind of like going first."

Phelps said he usually watches the Olympic opening ceremony on TV when he has to compete the next day. This is Phelps' third time participating in the Olympics. Phelps only needs three more medals in London to be the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Check what are your local Olympic TV channels by zip code here.

VIDEO (below): 2012 Summer Olympic Swimming Time Trials | Phelps vs. Lochte (400M Finals) | 6-25-12