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Subscribe to RSSSwimmer Ryan Lochte is going home with five Olympic medals, but it's what he left behind in the pool in London that has made some joking headlines as the Olympics wind down.
Lochte was in the spotlight a week ago when he admitted to TODAY special correspondent Ryan Seacrest that he occasionally pees in the pool. Then came a "Funny or Die" parody video where he took the peeing theme to hilarious heights.
Lochte jokingly reiterated his stance in an interview with Matt Lauer on TODAY Friday.
“I mean, sometimes you just gotta go,” he said.
British prime minister David Cameron was not amused once he heard how Lochte was using London’s Olympic pool. “I was surprised to hear that,” he told Britain's Metro newspaper. “It’s not OK to pee in the pool.”
Lochte has certainly stood by his right to relieve himself in the water. When comedian Will Ferrell called and asked him to make a “Funny or Die” video on the subject, he jumped at the opportunity. In the video Lochte says, “The way I see it, the pool is the biggest, most expensive toilet and it’s all mine. That’s the only time I allow myself to pee. Animals, they mark their territory. I pee in the pool. That’s my territory.”
Luckily for the pools of the world, Lochte isn’t going anywhere near one for at least a little while after a whirlwind Olympic experience.
“I’m definitely going to take some time off," he told Lauer. "It's been four years of every day in the pool. I think it’s time for me to take at least a couple weeks.”
Lochte isn’t worried that the come-down after the Olympics will lead to a crash. He has already said that he plans on making a run at a spot in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when he will be 32 years old.
“The Olympics is great," he said. "But for me, I treat every meet, every swim meet that I go to, the exact same. It just has a different name to it. And you know what? I love racing. And I want to keep doing it for another four years.”
While the world waits to see him in Rio in 2016, he'll be keeping busy on dry land. He already is entertaining multiple reality TV offers, and he has plans to move to Los Angeles, which he said has been a big goal of his for a long time. He told Lauer he hopes it will help him get into fashion.
“That is my passion,” he said. “When swimming is all said and done I definitely want to get into fashion and design my own clothing line.”
Read more:
Agent: Ryan Lochte fielding multiple reality TV offers
Ryan Lochte: I'd like to do 'Dancing with the Stars'
Ryan Lochte: 'I'm going another four years to Rio"
Phelps rival writes his own London headline: 'Ryan Lochte takes over'
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Jeane - you can't possibly be surprised at the stupid reporting that comes out of NBC. They have no credibility any longer. How about NBC cutting out the ENTIRE tribute to the 7/7 victims of the London Tube station bombing during the Opening Ceremonies. The entire world saw it EXCEPT America. How completely embarrassing and disrespectful to the host nation. Especially since we had our own 9/11 memorial during the Salt Lake opening. And the reason NBC made this amazing decision was so that we could see ANOTHER interview with Michael Phelps.
Then why are you both here reading the article?
Crying I couldn't agree more, some people just like to bitch and complain.
While I agree that NBC should not have cut out the tribute to the 7/7 victims, it is kind of strange that they had a tribute. That happened over 7 years ago. When they had it at the 2002 Olympics for 9/11, it only happened a few months before.
They should have instead had a tribute to the athletes that lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the Olympics in 1972, 40 years ago. But no, that might be seen as being political?
There is little news media today, we are faced with entertainment that plays to peoples desire to know something first. Unfortunately, most don't care if what they hear is correct, just that they have something to talk about.
David Cameron is right -- it is NOT ok to pee in the pool. Small children might be excused for their lack of planning, plus they involve small amounts. With a grown man, it is just vulgar and unclean; he should be ashamed. Other people swim in that water, and the entire water can only be changed at great expense. Poor example of an Olympian.
You do realize that pools are heavily chorlinated and that a pint of urine would only equate to the smallest percentage of fluid in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, right?
Also, when inside the body, urine in and of itself is sterile. I've seen surgeries where ureters have been cut and the surgeon allows the urine to pool in the surgical site because it is sterile at that point.
Anyway, I do all of my swimming in the ocean, not a pool and I'm sure there is so much worse floating around in there.
disgusted, he is the open one admitting to peeing in the pool, I am sure some of the others have done the same thing.
All this reminds me of the sign at a pool...
Welcome to our ool. There's no P in our pool and we want to keep it that way.
And the worst part is that Lochte makes it sound like a routine.
And Crying shame, should everyone be advised that peeing in the pool does not matter and any signs be taken down?
I've been a swimmer for nine years and with a couple of seasons of high school waterpolo mixed in and I can not only say that this is normal, but it's also the sign of a true aquatic athlete. I have had teammates and even coaches who make fun of those who DON'T pee in the pool. Not peeing in the pool also cuts into practice time and is extremely cumbersome and annoying.
oh get over it!
Sure glad he doesn't work the trampolines.
All new kind of golden shower - with a twist!
NBC, if this qualifies as news then I'll challenge you to exercise journalistic thoroughness and work this story to its logical end. See if you can put a funny spin on all those who might be inclined to leave feces, saliva, mucous, blood and semen in the pool rather than excercise discretion, personal discipline, hygeine and good taste when swimming in the same water occupied by others.
It's funny how people are making a big deal over this. #1 Urine is sterile. #2 Refer to #1 - Urine is non-toxic. #3 Urine is mostly water. Get over yourselves.
Sid, you won't mind then if I pee on you.
There a difference between rude and toxic. Some people are acting like it's the end of the world that this guy pee'd in the pool. It is indeed rude... but it isn't harmful to anyone. Don't be so dubious.
What do you think is in the pools in a hotel like the Sybaris or Champagne Lodge? Clue it ain't pee.
There is a difference between being classy and not bringing your potty habits into the newspapers and toxic! Sid, guess you were never taught class either. Did you not know that there are various bacteria that can grow in pee? Why don't we use you as a petri dish to see if we can culture some. Just open your mouth and stick out your tongue! This won'd hurt a bit!
Sid Higgins, which pool and/or beach do you frequent?
LMAO...I just remember a story by Yahoo why Olympic swimmers take a little pool water in their mouths then spit it out..they said in article its just a habit..but reading this story..tells the truth...they are checking to see if anyone pissed in pool yet!
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/why-swimmer-spit-water-time-133626057--oly.html
oh Mike thanks for the laugh... too funny!
I agree with Tranquil, Lochte should exercise discretion, personal discipline, hygiene and good taste when swimming in the same water occupied by others. I expect this kind of thing from very young children, but he is an Olympic gold medal winner. He may think it is funny, but for the rest of US it is embarrassing. Grow up Lochte.
Speak for yourself, Jane.
Lighten up... it's funny... and it sure beats listening to the tea baggers, Mitt, Obama and the congress nutcases!!!
Not by much.
There is or should be a standard of what is acceptable conversation especially in front of the media. I guess this is the only way he can get attention!
I do not think it is funny. I am surprised he isn't scratching his butt while he is telling this story! This is the international stage and goes down along with the crass comments made by Mitt when he was overseas! Some Americans are doing wonders for this country! Now we are seen as bigoted inept pool pee-ers! Thanks Mitt and Ryan!
Maggy, I seen the Chinese girl digging at her crotch.
Regardless if urine is sterile or just water...this is just disgusting for an Olympian, hero and role model to do and then brag about it...we all hope that the young swimmers look up to and work toward being like these champions...off to Hollywood for you Lochte to join that cesspool of humanity...maybe because of your low standards is why you bombed as an anchor in the 400 relay....
Gross. Can't we take his medals away from him?
Pissing in the pool; how gross.......................
Wow, class act. Guess this guy has never fully understood the maxim: discretion is the better part of valor.
660,430 gallons/2,500,000 of water in a olympic pool. Average pee maybe a liter/liter and a half.
Not to mention the through the roof chlorine levels. If it's anything like the pools I've swam competitively in, it's like swimming in a bottle of bleach.
A liter good god mon how much does your bladder hold. You need to be an olympian beer drinker.
This is the same kind of logic as, if there is a lot of dirt on the ground, why does it matter if we @!$%# on the ground?
I don't want to see stupid stories like this in a world full of serious stories that are not being told.... but that's nasty. No excuse; get out of the pool and go the bathroom!
then why did you read the article? i think the title made itself clear, missy.
in the words of shakespear, thou doest protest too much.
please, dear god, assure me that this body shaving dude is straight.
and may he pee on the hungry women out there who are horny for that sort of thing.
and ps, i thank the lord i'm gay.
Really!
Everybody pees in the pool. EveryTHING pees in the ocean. It's hilarious how uppity some people get about this topic, deflecting attention from the high likelihood that they do it also.
This guy is not only an accomplished athlete - he also has a great sense of humor. Get your heads out and have a laugh. David Cameron is a pompous British jackass for making that statement. Seems like the only time the Brits can have a laugh is when they are under the influence of alcohol. You should all really piss off!!! No pun intended!
He's funny enough or stupid enough to admit this? Whichever. Marking his territory? My territory is the kitchen. Suppose he'd like dinner at my home?
Better be careful what you wish for - especially if he is marking territory!
Onward to better things.
At least he didn't do it from the diving board
I totally agree re the reporting of news at any time of the day, year, whatever. Why they have to throw this crap into the mix is beyond me! AND why Lochte had to open his mouth for them is another mystery - talk about a low class comment! We can assume this happens more often than not, but, for the media to make a story out of comments by an athlete with the mentality of a ten year old is way out of line! NBC has also made some sexist remarks that are not appreciated, e.g. during the women's gymnastics coverage, a comment about hoping there would be no "dive" moments. And others, small, but, show an attitude that is not professional and diminishes women. Glad women are excelling beyond the men at these Olympics. AND, they are not talking about peeing in the pool!
Maggie you are complaining about this being in the news, but yet you read and posted to it. This being the second time. Get over yourself already, have a laugh.
#1. Urine is sterile except for a few bacteria it picks up on the way out. The skin overall is much more contaminated than urine. Also, pool water is disinfected with either chlorine or ozone, thus killing any stray bacteria whatever the source.
#2. Urine is mostly water. It contains only a few grams of urea and traces of other waste.
#3. The volume of an Olympic pool is about 2,500,000 liters. The volume of the average amount of urine is about 250 ml. The concentration, therefore is about one ten-millionth urine / pool water.
#4. This works out to about 0.000005 of a drop of urine in a liter of pool water.
No big deal. And you know what? Most people do it but don't say anything. Many people sitting around in a hot tub drinking alcoholic beverages pee multiple times in a much smaller volume. It just reminds of the old saying: What you don't know can't hurt you.
Yeah, who cares if it is not the hot tub at your own house.
Well, if Lochte is considering pursuing a career in fashion soon, perhaps he could start with a line of swimwear for incontinence, hmmm? It might make quite a splash!