Ryan Lochte was once seen as the heir to Michael Phelps as the poster boy of Olympic swimming.
However, one night at the 2016 Rio Olympics sent his career tumbling.
Lochte and his ex-wife’s divorce has revealed the extent of their debtsGetty GettyThe six-time Olympic champion’s career has been dominated by controversy[/caption]Less than a decade on, the 40-year-old now finds himself $270,000 (£198,526) in debt following his divorce.
Lochte’s estranged wife Kayla Rae Reid revealed this month she had filed for divorce earlier this year after seven years of marriage.
The couple, who have three children together, first started dating in 2015 before their engagement the following year.
Lochte, who wed the former Playboy model in 2018, reacted to the split in a social media post.
He wrote: “This past year has brought major changes for both of us as we’ve come to the difficult decision to end our marriage.
“I’m deeply grateful for the life we’ve built together and especially for the love we share for our three children.”
He added: “I remain committed to healing, growth, and co-parenting with care and respect as we move forward separately.”
According to US Weekly, divorce papers have revealed the extent of the couple’s financial woes.
The outlet reports that they owe a total of $270,000, including $99,696.06 (£73,305) in unpaid taxes for 2021 and 2022 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Medical bills totalling $167,697.88 (£123,305) are also being sought by a treatment centre Lochte attended between November 2023 and February 2024.
Lochte and Reid owe a total of $270,000 dollars, divorce papers have revealedGetty GettyThe former swimmer infamously lied about being robbed at gunpoint in 2016[/caption]His financial woes follow a glittering career in the pool, if not without controversy in his personal life.
Lochte had won the first of his 12 Olympic medals in Athens back in 2004, going on to claim six golds across the four Games he competed in.
He also holds the world records in the 4x200m freestyle relay and 200m individual medley.
Instead of his achievements in the pool, though, it is ‘Lochtegate’ that he is perhaps best known for.
The term was given to the scandal surrounding the USA swim team at the 2016 Games in Brazil.
Lochte and teammates Jimmy Feigan, Gunner Bentz and Jack Conger claimed they had been robbed at gunpoint after a night out during the Games.
GettyLochte was suspended for ten months after the Rio Games after the ‘Lochtegate’ scandal[/caption]It was later revealed that instead of being confronted by armed robbers posing as police, the group were chased by gas station security guards.
The athletes were accused of urinating outside a bathroom at the gas station, with Lochte allegedly vandalising a poster.
Details of the incident quickly came to light, with the swimmers having given money to the guards.
Several of the athletes were detained as witnesses by police before Lochte issued a public apology.
Despite his remorse, he lost four major sponsorship deals including endorsements with Speedo and Ralph Lauren.
USA Swimming subsequently issued a ten-month suspension to Lochte, who was also required to complete 20 hours of community service.
A charge in Brazil for falsely reporting a crime was ultimately dismissed, though.
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