In a newly-published ESPN feature, Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte opened up about the personal struggles he went through after he was publicly excoriated for his role in the infamous Rio gas station incident hours after the swimming portion of the Olympic Games ended.
In this paragraph from the story, Lochte even admitted to harboring suicidal thoughts after he returned home from the Olympics and was dropped by every sponsor while receiving death threats.
“‘After Rio, I was probably the most hated person in the world,’ Lochte mumbles. ‘There were a couple of points where I was crying, thinking, If I go to bed and never wake up, fine.’ Asked if that means he considered suicide, Lochte nods slowly. ‘I was about to hang up my entire life.'”
Lochte also admitted to being lonely for many years and that he has long wanted to start a family, which he is on the verge of doing with fiancee Kayla Rae Reid and their child, a son due this month. The story gives details of Lochte’s elaborate proposal to Reid from the fall.
“He proposed by flying his intended to a beachside cliff via helicopter, a table with champagne and roses set below, a photographer hired and hiding in the brush. Reid suspected something was up when she held Lochte’s hand in flight and it was clammy.”
The story also reveals that Lochte’s parents, Ileana and Steve Lochte, divorced in 2011. Lochte has remained close to his mother, but the story indicates that a rift has developed between Ryan and Steve, who coached Ryan during his high school years before he went off to swim for Gregg Troy at the University of Florida in 2002.
NBC showed video of an emotional Steve Lochte in the stands after Ryan won his first individual Olympic gold medal in the 200 back in 2008, but Steve was reportedly not in Rio for the 2016 Games.
“Lochte rejects any suggestion that a rift with his father contributed to the Rio debacle. ‘Of course I’m sad about it. I so wish he were there. I wish he was there every day of my life, but when it’s time for me to do my job, it’s time for me to do my job.'”
Read the full story from ESPN and author Allison Glock by clicking here.
Tyler Shimada
I still love Ryan! Everyone makes mistakes and you learn from them. That is what life’s all about. Hope to see him in 2020, really love his love for the sport. I was so carefree as a swimmer growing up and everyone said that I needed to be more serious. Just wasn’t me… Ryan Lochte is still one of my favorite swimmers to watch compete. This was a great read and pray he keeps moving forward and putting Rio stuff behind him. ❤️❤️❤️
Sorry to learn this. Public is so quick to criticize an athlete. No one knows what this man has gone through to accomplish getting to the Olympics. Easy to say mean hurtful things and judge something you know nothing about. Prayers to Ryan and family.
Well…. you are old enuf to know NOT to make these bad decisions … you would prob never feel that way if u didn’t do it …. or there is a bigger problem why you made such a bad decision in the first place … so I pray you get the help you need!!! Truly …. embrace it … get help… then you will be Free!!!! From one swimmer to another! Xoxoxoxoxo ?
MY BABY ?oh my god
Ryan has always been a favorite of ours. Everyone makes mistakes. And his mistake was in front of millions of people. Go Gators
Why does this read like a PR stunt? He was a let down to all of the age group swimmers that idolized him. It would be good for him to do some anti drinking public service videos.
Love Ryan! Always have, always will!
Miguel Sole Canales Danny Moon
❤️
Eleanor Howcroft
La vida es maldita
La vida es cruel y yo lo entiendo
All time favorite swimmer! This will make him stronger #Jeah!
Everyone makes mistakes.
I’m sure he was depressed. Don’t disgrace us vets by the stigma of PTSD. It’s real got it from combat. Doing and seeing shit unimaginable. Just don’t pretend you know what us vets go through. You have no clue. It’s not the same. Depression is different. I swam in high school with some success.
A coward and A crybaby…..wow the mighty have fallen….
Get well
Get focused your Amazing
Your mistakes only show your human side. STAY STRONG ON YOUR COMEBACK!
I’m all for redemption and rising again. Hopefully Ryan can do that. He’s a good bet for some golds in 2020.