The six-time Olympic champion revealed he was planning on racing the 200-metre and 400m individual medley (IM) as well as the 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly at next year’s trials.

It means the 36-year-old could compete in 14 races in the space of just seven days providing the event takes place as scheduled in Omaha in Nebrasha from June 13 to 20 in 2021.

But speaking on the SwimSwam podcast, Lochte was bullish about his prospects.

"If there was an 800m IM at the Olympics, I would be swimming it," said Lochte.

"At this point, with all of the work I’m doing, I’m looking at the 400m and 200m IM, 200m back, 200m free and 100m fly."

SwimSwam reports that Lochte has never swam less than five events at his four previous trials, stretching back to 2004.

Lochte will become the third-oldest US swimmer to ever compete in an individual event at the Games if he qualifies.

In 2018, the 12-time Olympic medallist was suspended for 14 months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for using an intravenous infusion.

Lochte had previously served a 10-month ban for falsely claiming he was robbed at gunpoint during Rio 2016.

He was part of the US team which earned the 4x200m freestyle crown that year, taking his Olympic gold medal tally to six.

The American also claimed one gold at Athens 2004 before he won two titles at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.