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Ryan Lochte may not be married with kids if not for swimming suspensions

Ryan Lochte is happily married with two kids — and he may have his swimming suspensions to thank for it. “I don’t have any regrets, because if that didn’t happen then I don’t know where I’d be, like I probably wouldn’t be married and I probably wouldn’t have kids,” the Olympian told Page Six. “So …

Ryan Lochte is happily married with two kids — and he may have his swimming suspensions to thank for it.

“I don’t have any regrets, because if that didn’t happen then I don’t know where I’d be, like I probably wouldn’t be married and I probably wouldn’t have kids,” the Olympian told Page Six. “So I mean it was a way of someone saying, ‘Like, you need to slow down, and you need to get your life in hand.’”

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, Lochte revealed that he was in a relationship with Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid. The couple, who wed in 2018, are now the parents of son Caiden, 3, and daughter Liv, 1.

Lochte, now 35, made headlines during those Olympic Games when he falsely claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint at a gas station. The tall tale quickly fell apart and although he apologized, the damage had been done. He received a 10-month suspension from the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and USA Swimming.

Then in 2018, Lochte received a 14-month suspension for getting a “prohibited intravenous infusion,” though he strongly denied “putting anything illegal” in his body. That year he also admitted to a “serious” addiction to alcohol and entered rehab.

Following the Rio Olympics, several sponsors, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren, dropped him, causing Lochte to lose at least $1 million.

Although the Rochester native says losing that hefty sum doesn’t keep him at night, “it definitely stinks. I mean, there’s not much that I can really say, I mean it just sucks.”

Lochte understands that his persona is probably that he’s the wild man of the pool, which is why he’s starring in the documentary “In Deep with Ryan Lochte” currently streaming on the Peacock network.

“I did it because a lot of people when they hear my name they get a misconception, and I just wanted people to know the real me, and how it’s been a rollercoaster ride,” he explained. “Especially in the past four years. But I’m in a good place right now, I mean I couldn’t be happier.”

The 12-time Olympic medalist is currently training for the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. If Lochte, who turns 36 on August 3, qualifies, he will be one of the oldest swimmers  to compete. But he’s optimistic that he’ll be in Japan next year.

“Age is just a number,” he said. “Dana Torres, she got a silver medal in 2008 when she was the age of 44, so I mean that just tells you that she just took care of her body and she was smarter in the water so that’s what I gotta be.

“I will be oldest Olympic swimmer for sure of the guys, but you know, how I feel mentally and physically, I’m ready. It’s gonna be a fun year.”

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