Two former Florida Gators will be competing in the men's 800-meter freestyle relay Tuesday during the 2012 London Olympics.

Ryan Lochte, of Daytona Beach, and Conor Dwyer, will be swimming in the final with fellow teammates Michael Phelps and Ricky Berens. The United States holds the world record for the event, which they set in Rome in 2009. But they will be swimming against the French, who beat the U.S. to the gold medal during the 400-meter free relay Sunday.

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The U.S. hopes to finish better than they have been swimming individually. Lochte, Dwyer and Phelps all failed to medal in at least one individual event.

But it isn't due to lack of encouragement. Several Florida athletes such as Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade and tennis player Serena Williams tweeted the swimmer.

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"You gotta love @ryanlochte confidence... When u put the work in you deserve to be..and that's what RL has done...I'm a fan," Wade said.

"#USA 1st GOLD courtesy of Ryan Lochte. Congrats. We LOVE you!!" Williams tweeted.

Ryan Lochte, who had over 400,000 followers Monday, also thanked his fans on his twitter page.

"I have THE BEST fans. Thank u guys for all the support. It's one of the reason I keep going!"

Lochte's remaining events include the 200-meter individual medley and the 200-meter backstroke.

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