Ryan Lochte, the second-most decorated male swimmer in Olympic history, has entered rehab for alcohol addiction, casting doubt on his bid to compete in a fifth Games. The 36-year-old father of two admitted he was 'headed to a dark, dark place' before seeking treatment.
Lochte's career has been marred by controversy since the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he falsely claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint. He later admitted to vandalising a petrol station with three teammates during a drunken night out, leading to a 10-month suspension. In 2018, he received a further 14-month ban for receiving an intravenous infusion without a therapeutic use exemption.
Despite these setbacks, Lochte has continued training in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife Kayla Rae Reid and their two young children. He is expected to compete in the 200m individual medley at the US Olympic trials in Omaha, an event where he still holds the world record set nearly a decade ago.
If he qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics, Lochte would become the oldest American male swimmer to compete at the Games. However, his recent admission to rehab has raised questions about his ability to compete at the highest level.
Lochte has described the current period as the most pressured of his life, saying: 'I have so much to prove, not just for myself, but for all the doubters out there.' He added that he is doing it to show his children that 'you're going to get knocked down, but it's how you get yourself up that defines you'.
