Ryan Lochte Explains Why U.S. Swimmers Can’t Leave the Olympic Village During the Games
The swimmer has competed with Team USA in four Olympic Games through the years
Ryan Lochte is opening up about the strict rules Team USA swimmers have to follow in the Olympic Village.
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, his wife Kayla Lochte, 33, was answering some fan questions on TikTok, when one person asked why some athletes might be allowed to leave the Village during the Olympic Games and others might not.
“What do you mean you are not allowed to leave the Olympic Village? I see all kinds of Olympic athletes leaving the Village,” the TikTok user asked.
“Not USA swimmers,” Lochte, 40, replied off camera, as Kayla commented, “USA has stricter rules than other countries, right?”
@kayla.lochte Replying to @mammaontherun #olympics #usa #swimming #village #olympicvillage #paris #paris2024 ♬ original sound – Kayla Lochte
“Yes,” Lochte confirmed, as Kayla questioned, “But you can leave for certain things?”
“Nope,” the former Olympian insisted, adding that if you have days off swimming and want to go eat lunch “with your family” for example, you have to get the “okay through the head coach.”
Lochte competed in the Team USA swimming team in four Olympic Games, his first being in Athens in 2004. He went on to attend the 2008 Games in Beijing, as well as the 2012 Games in London and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He’s earned six gold medals, three silver and three bronze through the years.
USA Swimming previously suspended the swimmer for 10 months and he lost more than $1 million in sponsorships after it was revealed that he and some of his teammates lied about being robbed at gunpoint during the 2016 Rio Games. The claim was an exaggeration to cover up a confrontation with armed security guards over alleged vandalism.
A charge against him was ultimately dismissed and he has since repeatedly apologized for his behaviour.
