7. Swimmer Ryan Lochte golden in Beijing Olympics; so is volleyballer Phil Dalhauser

Courtesy video and photos. Ryan Lochte didn't have a problem playing second fiddle to Michael Plelps. After all, the Volusia County son won gold as well  in Beijing. At right is Lochte and beach volleyball gold medal winner Phil Dalhausser.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Michael Phelps was the big star of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, but local son Ryan Lochte, the 24-year-old Spruce Creek High School and University of Florida graduate, was pretty good, too, winning a gold with Phelps and an individual gold in the 200-meter backstroke -- beating the world record.

Lochte, of Port Orange, who lives and trains in Gainesville with the Gators swim team for which he was a star, also captured a bronze in the 400 IM event.

Mainland High School graduate Phil Dalhausser and his teammate, Todd Rogers, won gold in beach volleyball over Brazil.

Here is what NBS Sports wrote of Lochte's bio on its Web site after the Olympics: Ryan Lochte shred the lable of "Mr. Runner-up" in Beijing with his victory over U.S. teammate Aaron Peirsol in the 200m backstroke, Lochte's first individual Olympic gold medal. The two had shared the world record coming into the Olympics, but Lochte lowered it in the final with a time of 1:53.94. Peirsol, who was attempting to sweep the backstroke events at consecutive Olympics, instead took the silver in 1:54.33. Lochte finished the Games with bronze medals in the 200m and 400m IM and another gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay, where he helped shatter the world record.

NBC Sports continued: Lochte says he doesn't pay attention to being mentioned alongside Phelps and Peirsol as being among the best in the world and has a relaxed approach when it comes to competition. "I guess people, when they race against Michael Phelps or Aaron Peirsol, they're not racing to win, they're racing to get second," Lochte said. "I don't think that. I always feel like I can win."

Dalhausser, who stands 6 feet 9, told NBC Sports he and Rogers work well together because they have similarly laid-back attitudes and get along off the court. "It's not like some guys who don't go out with each other and they'll be mad at each other on the court. We're both kind of low-key, we kind of keep to ourselves. And I think we're both level-headed and I think that's huge because guys get fired up and then they try to pound the ball into the sand."

Lochte's father, Steve, was later named swimming coach at Daytona State College.