Ryan Lochte is looking forward to moving past his Rio Olympics controversy by starting a new project. The Olympic swimmer has shared his excitement about his participation in "Dancing with the Stars" despite news of the athlete's sporting suspension.
Season 23 of the celebrity dancing competition "Dancing with the Stars" will mark Lochte's latest TV project. He is set to join the Hollywood stars and famous personalities who will compete in the show's new season. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he shared his hope that the show will serve as a chance for him to start anew.
Lochte made mention of his intention to move forward from his infamous Rio incident. He also commented on how the show may possibly help to change other people's opinion of him. The Olympic swimmer has received some backlash following his over exaggerated statement of having a gun pointed to his forehead during a visit to a Rio gas station with his teammates. He and his teammates also reportedly vandalized the bathroom of the said gasoline station.
The athlete even indicated that he has been looking forward to the celebrity dancing competition. He also recounted being offered to join "Dancing with the Stars" several years before the Rio Olympics. Lochte revealed that he has been receiving invitations to be a part of the show for almost five years now.
However, he has been unable to accept the offer given his hectic training period and the recently held Olympics. "But now that I'm taking a mental break and everything, I can do the show," he added. Lochte indicated that he finally made up his mind to join the show shortly before the start of the Olympics. Although the contract details about his participation in the celebrity dancing competition were only finalized after the sporting event.
Avid viewers of the show will soon see Lochte paired up with Cheryl Burke in "Dancing with the Stars" Season 23. Burke commented that she was happy to have the athlete as her dancing partner, as indicated in the same report. She also described him as a "really great guy."
On the other hand, a source from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) told TMZ that Lochte has been given a 10-month suspension due to the Rio controversy. The rest of Lochte's teammates who were with him during the said Rio incident were reportedly given shorter suspension periods.
Meanwhile, watch Lochte's full interview with Entertainment Tonight below: