By LeighAnn Wolle | Echo
Ryan Lochte's rise to fame was a long process. He was first recognized by those outside the swimming world in the 2004 Olympic Games, though his personality really captured the crowd's attention at the 2012 London Games.
Less than a year later, his reality show "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" aired on MTV. In the show, Lochte was accurately portrayed as a full-time party boy who happened to swim occasionally. It seemed each episode showed Lochte drinking a new drink and meeting a new girl. Shockingly, the show was not picked up for another season.
In light of recent events, a Lochte quote from April 2013 seems to fit best. Lochte so boldly proclaimed to news anchors on "Good Day Philadelphia" that his philosophy is "if you're a man at night, you gotta be a man in the morning."
Charming . . .
While in Rio, Lochte infamously got drunk, trashed a gas station and then lied to the media about what happened.
Quite the man.
Lochte is 32. He is certainly old enough to know how to behave. Young athletes look up to him and admire his Olympic success.
After watching his show, I was not at all surprised by Lochte's actions in Rio. The shock was also softened by stories I have heard from a friend whose cousin dated Lochte for a brief period in 2013. He was not only uncommitted to his relationships but also to adulthood in general. He views life as a party. Everything is about having fun.
If Lochte were a real man, he would be able to manage his alcohol intake. He claims the amounts of alcohol he consumed were simply a celebration of the end of his training for the Olympics, as he hadn't drunk in months.
In recent reports, Lochte has admitted he made his story up, saying he was still drunk the next morning when he told his exaggerated story.
Due to his actions, Lochte has turned much of the attention away from the athletes who succeeded in Rio. He has soiled the reputations of the three swimmers who were with him and once again displayed himself as an irresponsible child.
As a result of Lochte's actions, Polo and Speedo have dropped his endorsements. It would have been crazy for them to do otherwise. If Lochte wants to be known as a great man, he needs to man up and act like an adult.
After his final swim in Rio, he said he would see everyone at the 2020 Tokyo Games. He made that statement prior to his night out and made-up story. The U.S. Olympic Association is still deciding what actions to take regarding Lochte.
Honestly, I don't blame the officials for not knowing what to do. Should we not expect a 32-year-old man to be able to behave himself? They should require Lochte to spend some time in a rehabilitation center, as it is clear that he has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Beyond that, I do think it is reasonable for him to be excluded from the 2020 Games for other reasons. He is not the same swimmer he was eight years ago-he is aging. Chances of his actually qualifying again are slim. He needs to move on from his life in the pool and find a career, though that will be difficult after his actions in Rio.
So the question remains: will Lochte turn around and truly be a man at night and in the morning?
