Ryan Lochte, now famous for lying about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio and then setting the record for cross continental dash, will apparently trade in his swim trunks for dancing shoes.
Lochte will be the latest celebrity competitor entrant on Dancing With the Stars, according to sources familiar with the reality show’s upcoming fall season. The former Olympic swimmer will compete against D-list celebrities and other people you didn’t realize were still alive for the famed “Mirror Ball” trophy.
US Weekly reports that, while DWTS has yet to release its fall lineup, it will most likely include several Olympians, and Lochte’s name has been mentioned more than once. An “insider” told the magazine that Lochte is anxious to rehabilitate his image and DWTS is ideal: “He will be able to show America that he’s a good guy who made a mistake. He’s still an Olympic champion! He will be great on the show.”
It will also, of course, help to pad Lochte’s pocketbook. After it was revealed that Lochte and several of his teammates might had actually caused the disturbance that rocked the Rio Olympics, several major sponsors dropped their contracts with the swimmer.
Olympic champions actually have a great record on the show, with both figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and short-track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno among the show’s winners. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin was the most recent Olympic swimmer to take the floor.
Lochte isn’t new to the reality-television scene. After his stunning performance at the London Games, Lochte starred in a short-lived series for E! called What Would Ryan Lochte Do? which featured the swimmer attempting to create a fashion line and navigate major American cities.
It was canceled after only eight episodes.