Ryan Lochte, the Cuban-American local swimming superstar, said he’s ready to inch past Michael Phelps and take the gold in London.

Appearing on the Today Show this week, Lochte told co-host Matt Lauer if he had to write his own headline to his London story it would read, “Ryan Lochte Takes Over.”

PHOTOS: Lochte's Rise to Fame

The two are set to compete in the 200 and 400 individual medleys.

Sports Illustrated released its medal picks in its most recent edition and predicted that Lochte would take the silver in 200m individual medley but take gold in 400 meter individual medley.

Phelps has a record 14 gold medals.

Still, Lochte told Lauer he loves racing against Phelps.

“To me, Michael is just another swimmer,” Lochte said on the Today Show. “It’s just another person that I’ve got to go up against and race. He’s one of the toughest competitors I’ve ever had a race against, and I love racing against him.”

Lochte admits he performs best when he stays true to who he is.

“If I don’t be myself, then I won’t swim to my best,” he said. “I need to live life. I can’t do anything different. Life is too short. You don’t know when it’s going to end, so you’ve got to live life to the fullest.”

And part of being Lochte is being goofy. The rock star swimmer says he plans to sport his diamond mouthpiece on the podium that characterized his unique style.

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