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Ryan Lochte Opens up about Suicidal Thoughts after Rio

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte opened up about having suicidal thoughts in an interview with ESPN. Lochte faced harsh criticism after Rio due to his false report of a crime during the infamous gas station incident at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“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.”

Despite his troubles post-Rio, he says he has found new purpose because of his son. Lochte, who will turn 36 by the time Tokyo 2020 rolls around, plans to compete at the next Olympics with a fresh perspective and motivation.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he offers with moderate conviction. “Look, I was done with swimming back in 2013. I was drained, wiped out. Now I’ve found a new purpose with my son. This fire has been ignited, and it’s bigger than ever, and I’m just so excited because I know what’s going to happen in Tokyo. Everyone is going to have to watch out!”

After the Rio incident, Lochte was handed a 10-month suspension by USA Swimming that barred him from competing in this summer’s U.S. Nationals and FINA World Championships. He did, however, return to competition this spring at the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals.

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SwimmerFoxJet
7 years ago

Watch out indeed! The Lochtenator is back!

marklewis
7 years ago

Breaking News: Ryan says the ESPN story is wrong, he did not say he was suicidal.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/ryan-lochte-says-he-did-not-contemplate-suicide-after-rio/ar-BBCfsBw?li=BBnbfcL

Wella Peirsol Hartig
Reply to  marklewis
7 years ago

Point made!

James Guy
7 years ago

I hope he comes back, he’s one of the greats in the pool, and a real role model. He’s a good guy and I know loads of people have his back. Everyone goes through rough patches. It’s life, aslong as we learn from them that’s the most important thing. We’re all here for you big man!

Jennifer Lewis
7 years ago

Everyone has a right to redemption. Including Lochte and poor Tiger Woods. Yes, Lochte needed to finally grow up and let’s let him prove that he has. I can’t imagine having to live out all my mistakes in front of the world. It’s this element of success that makes success at that level very undesirable for many. Besides what he and the other two swimmers did was nothing more than pulling down an Ad poster in a gas station. This means it wasn’t even the gas station owners property. The punishment, detention and public ridicule these men were put through FAR outweighed the “crime.” They wouldn’t have even be cited in this country for that. I strongly believe that the… Read more »

David Berkoff
7 years ago

I have met Ryan several times over the years and have always found him to be funny, amazing with fans, open, and an all-around good guy. His issues in Río were not good but I still think the world of Ryan and wish him the best. We all make mistakes. He’s a fantastic ambassador to the sport of swimming and his story shows he’s a human being with a soul, a heart, and a solid understanding of life. Wish you the best Ryan. Keep your chin up. Kids are the greatest gift in life. Have fun as a dad. D

Wella Peirsol Hartig
Reply to  David Berkoff
7 years ago

We do all make mistakes, your judged in life by how you correct them.

Jim C
7 years ago

I don’t think Ryan Lochte was even close to Donald Trump in the race to be the most hated person in the world–but I can certainly see how it might have felt that way.

Judy Arroyo
7 years ago

You goooo for it!!!! You have family support & now that the real story is sold. U hold your ? head high & keep setting an example for your son ????

marklewis
7 years ago

The media took the Gas Station Swimmers story and made a big deal about it.

It was Billy Bush who did the interview with Ryan with all the fabrication. Same guy who did the Donald Trump Access Hollywood interview that got the Donald in hot water.

Bigly
Reply to  marklewis
7 years ago

Didn’t get the Donald in hot water, he got elected. It got Billy Bush fired though. Go figure.

G.I.N.A
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

Ther is a big difference between media outrage & actual Media outrage & real ppl . Everytime .

Bigly
Reply to  G.I.N.A
7 years ago

You lost me. It was like an Orange tweet.

G.I.N.A
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

Ive decided to go with the flow & go orange too . Anything to encourage #theresistance . I’ve never seen or read such a collective . Maybe the red red Mao cult who melted down tbeir woks to contribute to the great re build . Then tbey had nothing to cook with & slowly starved .

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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