The 2016 Rio Olympics marked one of the most eventful games in history. Apart from being the final Olympics appearances for Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, the games witnessed another noteworthy event. Phelps’ fellow American swimmer, Ryan Lochte, found himself in the middle of a massive controversy that saw him take an early exit. Not only did Lochte lose his place in the US swimming contingent, but he also lost numerous sponsors and the respect of the swimming fraternity.

Years after the controversy, former MLB star Alex Rodriguez invited Ryan to his show to help him make amends. But it was not all sunshine and rainbows for Lochte, as his wife had to face an uncomfortable situation.

Ryan Lochte was angry with Rodriguez over how he treated his wife

Alex Rodriguez was the host of a show called ‘Back in the Game’. It aimed at helping athletes after their reputation took a hit following a controversy. Following his Brazil controversy, Ryan Lochte made an appearance on the show. Lochte filed a false police complaint stating he and his teammates were robbed at gunpoint at a Rio gas station. Although he was acquitted criminally, his sponsorships and reputation took a serious hit.

While on the show, an incident involving his wife rubbed Lochte the wrong way. He later mentioned the same in an interview. Lochte said, “I didn’t like it. Like the perception that he portrayed to my wife was completely wrong. We were looking at cars because we wanted, had to trade in her car for the show, whatever, and to cut down our expenses. And they made her say like, ‘oh this is, no, this is not, I would never drive this.'”

READ MORE: Ignoring Michael Phelps Warning on Behavior Cost Ryan Lochte $100,000 and Respect After Rio Olympics: “Keep Your Head Straight”

Ryan added, “And that’s not her, and it portrayed her as being the superficial person, and that’s not her at all. And I was really hurt about that part because I have to protect my family, and I was pissed off about that. I was like, ‘this is bullsh*t, and what are they doing?‘”

Lochte – 2nd only to Michael Phelps

The GOAT, Michael Phelps, redefined the sport of swimming and pushed the bar further back every time he took center stage. Few have reached the level of consistency Phelps had. But Lochte comes in at a close second owing to his victories at the Olympics.

Ryan won 12 Olympic medals and ranks second in the list of most medals won. From 2004, the world witnessed a rivalry comparable to that of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, only in water. Until 2016, the swimmers went head to head in five meets, with Phelps coming out on top on four occasions. While the races came terrifyingly close, Lochte only beat Michael once during his career, and he considers it to be one of his greatest achievements.

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But a couple of poor decisions on Lochte’s part (including ignoring the advice of Phelps) sent his life crashing down. Ryan has since spent a lot of time ‘repairing’ his legacy. Presumably, the six medals he auctioned off for charity were also a step in the same direction.