A day after Ryan Lochte’s mom said he went out on “one night stands” because he was “always on the go,” she told USA Today Sports she was referring to dates.
“How innocent is that?” Ike Lochte was quoted by USA Today as saying. “All I wanted to say is that he’s so sensitive about not wanting to hurt a girl dating, so he just goes and dates and takes out a girl for maybe one or two dates and doesn’t have a relationship because he doesn’t have (time) and it’s not fair to women.”
She said her comment to NBC’s Today.com was about dating not hookups.
"I thought that was so sensitive, but then they turned it around. I'm not used to this,” Ike said. ”What kind of mom is going to say that? Especially being a mom and having two daughters."
Lochte, too, clarified his mom’s comment and told Today.com she didn’t mean the statement negatively.
“I know what she meant by it,” he was quoted as saying. “What she meant is that I’m not in a relationship so I do go on dates. It’s not that negative part … She had nothing negative.”
Lochte, who is leaving London with five medals, celebrated his 28th birthday Friday.
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Appearing on the Today Show, he told co-host Matt Lauer he had some “up and down swims” at the Olympics.
“I’m relieved that’s it’s finally over. It’s been a long four years but you know what, I’m coming home to my country with five Olympic medals, I couldn’t be more happier,” he said.
Lochte faced Michael Phelps in what will forever be one of the Olympics’ most-watched rivalry, and each walked away with gold.
Lochte outswam Phelps in the 400 meter individual medley, clinching the gold and leaving Phelps in fourth place.
Phelps came back in the 200 meter individual medley beating Lochte for gold.
“In swimming, me and Michael is gonna go down as one of the greatest rivalries in history,” Lochte said. “I’m just happy that I was a part of that.”
Following his final race, Lochte tweeted: “Had some ups and downs this Olympics but bringing 5 Olympic medals back to #USA now time to cheer for #USA #Jeah.”
“Whenever I step on the blocks, I’m always going there to win, I’m not going for second or third, I’m going there for the gold and sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t but overall I’m pretty happy,” he said Friday.
He also told Lauer he’d definitely be back in 2016.
“I’m having a blast swimming. By all means I’m going another four years,” he said.
