Lochte ended Phelps' two-year reign as male swimmer of the year, thanks to world record-setting triumphs in the 200m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle relay at the World Championships in Rome.

He earned five medals, including four golds in Rome.

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"I just want to say thank you to my parents. They've been 100 per cent with me my entire swimming career," Lochte said. "Aaron Peirsol and Michael Phelps, you guys have pushed me to limits I didn't even know, and I wouldn't be here without you."

Lochte also shared the relay performance of the year award, for the 4x100m free relay in Rome in which he, Phelps, Matt Grevers and Nathan Adrian defeated Russia as favourites France flopped.

Phelps was honoured for his scintillating 100m butterfly triumph in Rome. He smashed the 50-second barrier with a time of 49.82sec and handed Milorad Cavic a bigger defeat than the one the Serbian suffered by a fingertip at the Beijing Olympics.

Soni set a world record and won gold in the 100m breaststroke in Rome.

The award-winners were decided by fans in online voting.