'Enthusiastic' Ryan Lochte inspired by Michael Phelps' return to swimming

Three-time Olympian swimmer Ryan Lochte is reportedly inspired by Michael Phelps' return to the store and is looking towards the 2016 Rio Olympics with renewed enthusiasm.

Lochte, who has long reportedly toiled in the shadow of Phelps, said that the US giant's comeback to swimming has helped him shake off the doldrums that had him questioning his swimming future.

Lochte, who has five gold medals among his 11 Olympic medals and owns 15 long-course world titles, said that he had been going through a rough patch after last summer, adding that he was not really motivated about getting back to swimming, Sport24 reported.

Lochte, who suffered ligament damage in his left knee in an accident, said that he felt like he should just throw in the towel then, but found that little spark when Phelps announced that he would return to swimming, which helped him in keep going and different ways of making swimming fun again.

Lochte said that having Phelps back in the water definitely helps, because people are going to be back to both of them pushing each other.

Phelps lost to Lochte with a few seconds in the 100 metre-butterfly final as he made his return to swimming at the Mesa Grand Prix in Arizona, the report added.