Ryan Lochte shocked fans when he shared an announcement to social media. But it wasn’t the news that left people flabbergasted.
The swimmer, 41, announced to his 984k Instagram followers that 26 years after he made his Olympic debut, Ryan is becoming a coach. “I am so excited to announce that I will be coaching with coach @dav_collins @missouristate!,” he wrote. “I am so excited and beyond grateful for this opportunity!!”
And while Ryan seemed excited to share the news, fans were shocked by his new look. The Olympic gold medalist wore a fitted white t-shirt, a cross necklace, light facial hair, and very tan skin. His fans rushed to the comments to share their thoughts.
“Literally does not look like him,” one person wrote. Another person commented: “Took me a very long time to realize this was him talking about himself in the third person at first.” And one more person added: “Whoa. He looks like a completely different person.”
But, Ryan didn’t let the haters get him down. On Thursday, May 14, the swimmer reposted a video from his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, to his Instagram Stories, responding to people commenting on his transformation.
“My phone is blowing up with everyone saying that nobody recognizes you,” Molly told Ryan in the video, as he scrolled on his phone while sitting on a couch. “They say that you don’t look the same at all…”
© InstagramTo which Ryan responded: “What? What picture are they using?” adding: “Oh, so they’re taking a picture of when I was working out every day, getting makeup put on me for photoshoots… back in [the] 2012 Olympics. We’re in 2026. What’s that? 14 years. You think I aged?”
“To be unrecognizable, I mean, I don’t get it,” he continued. Ryan wrote over the video: “I guess aging is frowned upon?! What is happening lol.”
© Getty ImagesRyan Lochte’s controversy
Ryan has a storied career in professional swimming. He’s the third-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, behind Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, winning 12 medals over four Olympics. But, he’s better known for the international controversy he generated in 2016.
While he was competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Ryan claimed that he and three other American swimmers had been pulled over and robbed at gunpoint by men with police badges. But, as details emerged, the world learned that Ryan stretched the truth of the incident.
© Getty ImagesAfter he and other American swimmers allegedly urinated outside of the bathroom and allegedly vandalized a framed poster at a gas station, security guards – not men posing as police officers – stopped them.
Due to the scandal, Ryan lost four major sponsorships, was suspended for 10 months, and was required to complete 20 hours of community service. He wrote to Instagram at the time: “I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend – for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics.”
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