Ryan Lochte thrashed American compatriot and double Olympic champion Michael Phelps to take 400m individual medley gold, BBC reports.

Phelps, the greatest all-round swimmer his sport has seen and gold medallist in both Athens and Beijing, was left without even a bronze as Brazil's Thiago Pereira took second and Japan's Kosuke Hagino third.

But this was all about Lochte, the brash rising star, seizing ascendancy in buccaneering fashion.

"I'm in shock right now, but I knew I could win so I'm happy I could do that," said Lochte. "I heard the fans throughout and having them and my family right there really helped."

Referring to Phelps, he said: "I know he gave everything he had, so I'll have to have a chat with him and see how he is after that."
A disappointed Phelps said: "I felt great for the first 200m, but after that it just didn't happen. I had the chance to get off on a good note but didn't do it."

His coach, Bob Bowman, added: "He trained really well coming in here. I'm surprised. We just have to put it behind us and move on."