12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte is doubling-down on a possible return to competitive swimming. During an interview with WCCO Radio's Mark Freie on Monday, Lochte said, "It's above 50 percent of me coming back to swimming than anything."
Lochte, 40, who is scheduled to hold a two-day swim clinic on Saturday at Life Time's Plymouth location, spent “four or five days” in Paris watching Team USA compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Coming back from Paris, I was thinking, ‘Is it possible if I come back into swimming? Should I or shouldn’t I?’” Lochte said. “There are so many thoughts like that.”
In 2021, Lochte competed in the 2020 USA Olympic Swimming Trials, but ultimately did not qualify to compete in Japan.
"I was the oldest by far, I was 37," Lochte said. "That's really not hear of in the sport of swimming as far as for men. The reason why I was able to keep going for so long is because I was enjoying it, I was having fun. I didn't think swimming was my job. It was a sport that I liked to do and I was good at. That was it."
That attempt to return to the Olympics came after the 2016 “Lochtegate” controversy where Lochte was charged with filing a false robbery report during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.
While those charges were eventually dropped, he was banned for 10 months by USA Swimming. In addition to losing out on major sponsorships, Lochte also missed the 2017 World Championships.
In 2018, he also received a 14 month suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for a doping rule violation after one of Lochte's social media accounts published an image of him receiving an IV infusion of a legal substance without a "Therapeutic Use Exemption."
“After 2016 and everything that happened I got back into swimming because I wanted to prove to everyone that second chances do happen and there’s no other, greater country to get second chances that U.S.,” added Lochte. “I was older and everyone was telling me to do it for the old guys. I was basically doing it for everyone, but myself. I think that’s why I fell short.”
This time, he sees a return to the pool differently.
“This time around, I’m not doing it for anyone. I’m doing it for myself. If I fall short, I fall short. At least I know I gave it 100% and it was for me, and not for anyone else. My whole entire swimming career, I did it because I had dreams, I had a goal that I wanted to accomplish in the sport. That’s what made me triumph over anything. When I fell short, it’s because I wasn’t doing it for myself, I was doing it for everyone. This time around, if I actually really do decide to get back into it fully, it’d be for me. I think it’d be a lot different, but most importantly I gotta have fun doing it.”
Training, Lochte admits, would look different due to his age.
“I've never taken nutrition 100% seriously, so I would be doing a lot of things differently if I do this next cycle. I just turned 40 so I won’t be able to do as much hard training as I used to, but I will be able to do other things outside of the pool that could help me and benefit me,” he said. “I can’t predict the future, but I know I might be willing to give this another try.”
Lochte Coming to Minnesota
Fresh off the heels of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Lochte will host a swim clinic on Saturday at Life Time in Plymouth.
During the clinic, which costs $250 for members and $275 for non-members, Lochte will provide in-water instruction with drills, starts and turns, and a Q&A session.
He will also covers things like nutrition, post-race recovery, injury prevention, and advice on mental health.
“I try to have fun with these kids and let them understand that this is just a sport that we all love to do,” Lochte said. “It doesn’t run your life, there’s so much more to life than just this sport. I want them to understand that if you have fun, you’re going to have a lot farther in life. Yes, you can take this seriously, but don’t let this consume you. That’s what I want them to understand, there’s so much more to life than just swimming.”
As for Minnesota itself, it’s a place Lochte says is near and dear to his heart.
“I’ve been a Vikings fans ever since Randy Moss was on the team way, way back in the day. I mostly just have favorite players, since Randy was on the Vikings, I just stuck with the Vikings. Also swimming at the University of Minnesota, I broke American records there, I love Minnesota.”