Written and courtesy of Elizabeth Wickham
There’s a debate with swimmers, parents and fans on whether Ryan Lochte should be allowed to swim at the 2017 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship, April 27 – 30 in Riverside, CA. The reason for the debate goes back to sanctions against him from the 2016 Rio Olympics. This would be Lochte’s return to swimming although he’s still ineligible to compete at 2017 U.S. Nationals.
When you bring up Ryan Lochte’s name you hear a lot of opinions. Do you think it’s okay for U.S. Masters to allow Ryan Lochte to swim at their Spring Nationals short course meet? Or, should they follow USA Swimming’s spirit of the sanction and ban him?
I’ll be swimming at this meet with swimmers ages 18 through 95—and I’ve swam for less than two years in my life. I’m nervous and excited to be at a meet with Ryan Lochte. I think it’s great publicity to have someone of his caliber at a Masters meet—along with fellow Olympian Nathan Adrian. I’m looking forward to bragging to my kids—who are swimmers—that I swam at a meet with Ryan Lochte.
Because Lochte is not eligible to swim in the U.S. Nationals, he cannot qualify for the World Championships later this year. Should he be allowed to compete at all? What does Lochte have to gain by swimming at a U.S. Masters meet? What would he lose by not competing?
I conducted an informal survey with swimmers and swim parents. It was close to 90 percent that he should be allowed to swim, but there were strong feelings on both sides of the issue.
What is your opinion on Lochte swimming at the U.S. Masters meet? Should Lochte swim or not swim?
Elizabeth Wickham volunteered for 14 years on her kids’ club team as board member, fundraiser, newsletter editor and “Mrs. meet manager.” She’s a writer with a bachelor of arts degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington with a long career in public relations, marketing and advertising. Her stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Parenting and Ladybug. You can read more parenting tips on her blog: http://bleuwater.me/.
I’m glad Lochte got to swim. It was good for Masters swimming and good for an athlete who will likely be representing us in Tokyo. Let’s all get over the Rio nonsense. It will be interesting to see if he uses the Masters long course championships to let the world know where he stands, the way Phelps did with US Nationals during 2015’s Worlds.
Of course let him swim.
As far as Tokyo??
Would love to see him go.
But he has no Bob Bowman.
If Ryan moved to Arizona and trained under Bob with Michael’s help??
Anything is possible.
I don’t see it happening.
I say leave him alone. He has my back. To swim and commune with him would be a honor. Having Nathan Adrian there also will give Ryan a boost. Let’s support him and not condemn him. Let’s teach the media about forgiveness and moving forward.
That country took advantage of him. There are worse things happening in the sports world and the world in general.
No, he should not swim in the Masters. The rules may be bent but an adult should know better and set the example which he seems to to have a problem with in the past. He needs to act as an adult with the sight of being a role model as a opposed to a fashion model.
Before he over-partied after the Olympics, got drunk and stupid, Lochte was a great ambassador for the sport. He still is that good guy, who now is known for making a really dumb mistake.
Besides, Masters Swimming is competition for the fun of it. I’m sure he will be very personable, charming and happy to share advice with anyone at the meet. I wish I was going!
Should one governing body really allow an athlete who is currently banned by another governing body to compete?
That’s the real question. It’s an interesting question, but most of the comments here do not address it at all.
Yes, definitely let him swim! This has a good promotional value for US Masters Swimming
USMS’s creed to have all swimmers participate. But he is sanctioned by USA and we do have USA swimmer participate at the meets. Poor judgement by Ryan deserves the consequences. Every USMS swimmer is a part of the whole concept. To have Ryan swim now, before the USA sanctions is in poor judgement by USMS. Let him sit out until he sanctions are lifted.