Ryan Lochte.Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP/Shutterstock
Ryan Lochteisn’t going anywhere.
On Thursday, swimmer, 36, shared avideo on Instagrampromising fans that, despitefailing to qualifyfor theTokyo Olympics, he isn’t planning to back away from the sport just yet.
“I’ve had a few days at home to get my emotions in line, because after Olympic trials my emotions have been a rollercoaster ride; up, down, all around,” the 12-time Olympic medalist said in the clip.
He filmed his message from the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at his alma mater, the University of Florida — the place where he said, “my swimming career all started.”
“I didn’t want this video to be a sappy video,” Lochte said. “I’m not done. I’m not retiring. There’s so much more I want to do in the sport of swimming, whether it’s in the pool or outside of the pool trying to grow the sport, because the love and passion that I have — I want to grow the sport. I want to put swimming in people’s living rooms all the time. So, I’m still going to be doing that. I’m still going to be in the sport, and I’m still going to be trying to teach kids how to swim.”
“I want to say thank you to my family,” Lochte said. “When I fell down, you guys picked me back up and said, ‘Keep fighting and striving for greatness, trying to become a better man every day.’ So, thank you.”
The athlete also thanked his fans and sponsors, adding: “The messages I’ve been getting have been so heartfelt and it has been touching me in so many ways.”
Lochte concluded his message with a shoutout to Team USA and all the athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics, saying: “I already know you guys are going to kick ass.”
“One thing I love about the Olympics is it’s one time in the world where everyone comes together to do one thing: compete,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what race you are, it doesn’t matter what color you are. It’s everyone coming together, and I love that. I’m sad that I won’t be there, but I’ll be there in spirit and heart. I’ll be watching and cheering you on…”
“This is just a new chapter and a new beginning, and I’m excited,” he added.
Ryan Lochte.Maddie Meyer/Getty
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The journey to the trials was a long road for the seasoned athlete. Lochte was suspended from the U.S. national swim team for 10 months followinga drunken incident at the 2016 Summer Olympicsin Rio de Janeiro in which he damaged a gas station sign and falsely reported he was robbed at gunpoint. Charges against Lochte were ultimately dismissed, but his suspension stood and he lost all of his major sponsors.
He was suspended again in 2018 for violating a restriction on IV use. Later that year,he entered a month-long rehab program for alcoholafter a run-in with police at his California hotel room.
“I thought I was ready for 2020, and when they postponed it I started looking at the positive side of having another year under my belt,” he said at the time. “I’m going to get stronger, mentally prepare myself even more, I’m just going to be a better athlete. I’m so excited because I have so much determination and I’m just ready to go!”
source: people.com
