Ryan Lochte says he sought advice from one of his U.S. Swimming teammates not long after he got himself into trouble by lying about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio.
A pretty notable teammate, too.
In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres that will air in full on Monday, Lochte spoke about how he reached out to Michael Phelps last month.
“I reached out to him because I knew he hit a low point in his life and bounced back from it,” Lochte said, via TMZ. “I knew his answer was going to be really honest because of our relationship over the years. He said, ‘It’s not what you did, it’s what you do now that will shape who you are.’ I took that to heart and that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna better myself and make sure I don’t make those mistakes again and become a better person.”
Lochte also said he wants to compete in Tokyo in 2020 but admits he was “mentally tired” the past year and is hoping the 10-month suspension gives him an opportunity to clear his mind.
As many of you know, Phelps checked into rehab two years ago after he was busted for his second DUI. He has kept out of trouble since, and his issues with the law seemed all but forgotten when he added to his gold medal total in Rio.
While all of his major sponsors cut ties after the gas station incident, Lochte was able to secure a new one recently. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of a return in Tokyo is his age, as Lochte will turn 36 during the 2020 Summer Olympics.
