Ryan Lochte‘s agent says the Olympic swimmer’s upcoming stint on Celebrity Big Brother will show a different side of the swimming icon, and that Lochte will be continuing his aquatic training while on the show, per a People magazine interview.
Lochte’s agent, Jeff Ostrow, spoke to People this week on the heels of the news that Lochte would be competing on the CBS reality TV show. The 34-year-old Lochte is one of 12 celebrities competing on the season, which airs beginning on January 21. He’s currently serving a 14-month anti-doping suspension for receiving an illegal IV vitamin drip, though he still plans to contend for a 2020 Olympic berth.
Ostrow told People that Lochte accepted the invitation to appear on the show so that America could see a different side of him than is typically portrayed in the media.
“He’s not how he is in the media,” Ostrow said in the People piece. “He’s a great person, laid-back and down to earth.
“People who want to see Ryan — what they think, he’s a party animal, crazy person, that’s not what they’re going to see and that’s not what Ryan is. And, in fact, he made a commitment to change his lifestyle a little bit and sought a little bit of help for alcohol and he doesn’t party like that.”
Ostrow goes on in the interview to say that Lochte’s alcohol treatment program “went very well” and that Lochte entered the program voluntarity, “even though many professionals would suggest that he didn’t necessarily need to.”
As far as Big Brother specifics, Ostrow said Lochte is playing to win, but didn’t want to overthink the strategic portion of the game too much. And in swimming-related nuggets from the interview, People reports that there will be a pool in the Big Brother house specifically so that Lochte can continue his training for the 2020 Olympic Trials.
They should have olympics in the BB house!
In all the debates about Lochte there seem to be two sides: those that have heard/experienced what a great guy he is in person and those who can’t stand him based on the media. Just curious if anyone has first hand knowledge/experience of the media portrayed Ryan rather than the good guy Ryan? Otherwise it seems like a lot have fallen for the image the media wanted to cast.
I had some Olympians come for a clinic. All of a sudden I get a phone call from their agent…. the water was cold. It was 84’!!! Ryan came. On his break he cane over and watched our baby self rescue presentation and added to the program. Great with fans. He is the best!
Don’t pretend to understand this choice. He is handsome and talented swimmer, maybe thinking of parlaying this to be aquaman 2 or something in movies? I always thought of him as nice and friendly but maybe not the best with presentation/media. The whole Rio debockle case-in-point. Just think even the messaging from his agent is indecisive…really to compare to Phelps and how his messaging was so clear after his press/image issues. No idea, this will be interesting.
You’re a suspended pro swimmer whose endorsement potential was crushed by the absurd media hype over the Rio incident (compare to current events). You have a wife, one kid and one on the way. The math is pretty easy. Phelps, you recall, was forced by the legal system to clean up his act —- he avoided significant jail time for felony DUI in a plea agreement that included being a straight arrow. It wasn’t all strategic marketing, and it wasn’t just press/image issues, it was serious legal issues.
He is a nice guy. Very personable and down to earth. First hand information, not the media hype.
I agree
Lochte needs his own marvel origins movie because he’s the real super hero, second greatest alrounder Olympic swimmer ever, model, tv star. A movie is the next logically step. What would be his super powers be swimswam? He’s already better than hawkeye
I think an argument can be made that he is the 2nd best male swimmer of all time, but Spitz, Biondi, Coughlin, Ledecky, are all greater Olympic swimmer. He was the best in 2010-2011 though
Can’t believe you’re putting Spitz in the same group as the others. All those golds, no pro years, and his ridiculous times in events he swam when he was younger —- 200 IM, 400 free. The only thing he didn’t have was longevity, and that’s because there were no pro prospects and the Olympics (for Westerners, at least) were strictly amateur, not even any endorsement money.
I listed swimmers who had better Olympic achievements than Lochte, Spitz was one of them… he’s obviously the 2nd greatest Olympic swimmer of all time.
It’s ironic to me that all that grinding pain Lochte put in at practices in his life, would pay off financially in such a weird way. Not discounting his great athletic achievements either- it’s just strange. Still rooting for him to make the 2020 team in the 200 IM, but he can’t have too many of these distractions.
Yes, there is no better way to shed you’re image as an overgrown frat bro living on permanent spring break than appearing on a reality show with luminaries like Dina Lohan, Kato Kaelin and the Mooch.
I’d do it if they paid me enough. It’s all about the cash and Ryan has the right to earn a living. Everything I’ve read about him is that he’s a very nice person who made a few minor mistakes. The Brazil thing was made a much bigger deal than it should have been due to the Brazilian’s clownish handling of the entire affair. JMHO.
U s a Today article pretty much showed what a joke that whole story was. Ok, their competition was over and they were drinking. Language barrier. A gun was drawn He certainly payed the price.
“And sought a little bit of help for alcohol”
It’s comments like this that create a stigma around substance treatment. Any amount is a fantastic step. Be respectful.
maybe he just meant it sounds weird to seek *a little bit* of help. like, either do it or dont. but idk.