Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have traveled the world together, fought hard for Olympic hardware, and shared some of the most exciting moments in swimming history. In the aftermath of Phelps’ DUI arrest, Ryan Lochte opened up to TMZ Sports, who originally reported the arrest:
Ryan Lochte:
“I’m not concerned…he just makes dumb decisions.”
“He has so much money to get a driver. I even have a driver. Just stinks for the sport of swimming.”
“But he will become smarter from this. Luckily he did not hurt himself or someone else.”
Ryan Lochte will represent the USA Swimming National Team at the 2014 Short Course FINA World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
As a mother, I love Michael Phelps and continue to love him. I wish him the best. Hope no more DUI. Already two strikes, Michael. Three strikes you may be out!
Love your mom, Michael. She is always there for you and forgives your mistakes.
God Bless You
Whoever assumes of no fault will throw the first stone at Michael Phelps.
He may very well have been stopped 50+ additional times, but was let go due to his celeb status or to protect the family name in the community. There are more reasons to believe he was given a pass than most others. But when it comes to going almost twice the speed limit and weaving through a tunnel, it crosses a line.
I think Phelps is an embarrassment to the swimming community and to the Olympic team. I’d like to see him spend some time in jail, then go to rehab for Alcoholism, get a year-long suspension from USA Swimming, and hopefully never show his UN-sorry face on the Olympic Team again. I would like to see some other law-abiding swimmer take his place.
Wow – your naïve to think other Olympians do not have DUI’s or worse. Kobe Bryant is an Olympian (after he was accused of sexual assault). Athlete members of USA Swimming are not background checked – how do you know other swimmers are law-abiding? Now that I think about it, maybe that’s how a lot of the best swimmers achieved their best times – eventually quitting swimming because they liked the dope better – although some found their way back to the sport.
For clarity – (some of the best swimmers on the teams that I’m familiar with).
Of course other Olympians are not angels. This guy has been an Olympian since he was a teenager, and has reached financial heights few others will see. His mother is a school administrator and I believe his estranged father is a retired state trooper. Come on now, he knows better.
Let’s not bring Kobe into this. He may very well been victimized by a mean spirited, gold digging hotel worker. We do not know. Many athletes hook up with such women and nothing ever comes of it.
You would make a PERFECT candidate for a position within USA Swimming. Victims of sexual abuse are just gold diggers and that is why Kobe paid her off.
Her story is unsubstantiated, and you are automatically taking her side. That’s all I’m saying. Not every woman in this world is a victim, and not every man is an out of control sexual beast who rapes women at will for no reason other than they can. I’m sorry that’s what you are paying tens of thousand of dollars to have learned in college.
All – unless you can tie it specifically back to swimming, please stay on topic in the comments. Probably not the best place to have a debate over what Kobe did or didn’t do.
I would like to counter my own original post, and apologize for my overly emotional response. I feel a lot better about this situation now that I know Phelps is in Rehab & now that USA Swimming has elicited a suspension. I’m 44 years old & I was Bulimic/Anorexic in my youth, & had to go to Rehab myself. I had good recovery in 12-step meetings & I guess I had really strong emotions that Phelps needs to find God in AA meetings. Best wishes to him.
I grew up with alcoholics in my extended family & not one of them could recognize they had a problem. People who abuse drugs, drink too much, have emotional problems, etc. rarely recognize they have a problem & that is a good reason they have a problem. I do not know Mr. Phelps but have followed his swimming career. He is now 29 years old. How many times do you get a chance to “not abuse drugs, drink too much”, have a fabulous career & still make bad decisions that could altar his life or the life of someone else? This may only seem like semantics to you but he didn’t make a mistake. He made a bad choice &… Read more »
It would be great to see a lot of athletes who are beasts in competition, but who can really keep their sh together in life. Athletics makes you a better person and it teaches you about life. It is pointless to me without carrying the same values you learn in the pool or on the field into your personal life. Obviously that isn’t the way the world works, but it should be.
Self control and self discipline are key in life and in sport. This is what you should be teaching your kids, people. Michael made a huge, yet very preventable mistake. It doesn’t matter if he is an alcoholic or not. People shouldn’t be having this “boys will be boys” attitude. He can get trashed and keep it classy by getting a ride home. He’s far to old for this, and I’m sure it’s more than the second time he’s done it. All athletes need to be held to a higher standard, not just him.
i’m not going to read all the comments on Phelps & his dui…bcoz i know they will raise my blood pressure. i myself have problems too & so do each & every human being on planet earth. pretty sure that dozens of u people here have made at least 1 or 2 mistakes in your lives 2, no? so dont judge Phelps or anyone that u dont know well… let the legal system takes care of this matter. breathe. let go. the first one to forgive is the happiest. 😀
i believe the greatest of all time has the power to determine his own destiny. God will watch over him!!! still a huge Phelps fan.
USA swimming should not… Read more »
Can we take away this meshugganah’s gold medals already? it’s pretty clear he’s no Mark Spitz
Even Mr. President does NOT have the right to do it.
Michael Phelps is still Michael Phelps – the G.O.A.T. in history of swimming. Enough said! 🙂