Ryan Lochte Explains Why U.S. Swimmers Can’t Leave the Olympic Village During the Games

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Lochte poses for a Team USA portrait ahead of Tokyo 2020.Photo:Harry How/Getty Images

Harry How/Getty Images

Ryan Lochteis opening up about the strict rulesTeam USAswimmers have to follow in theOlympic Village.

“What do you mean you are not allowed to leave the Olympic Village? I see all kinds of Olympic athletes leaving the Village,” the TikTok user asked.

“Not USA swimmers,” Lochte, 40, replied off camera, as Kayla commented, “USA has stricter rules than other countries, right?”

“Yes,” Lochte confirmed, as Kayla questioned, “But you can leave for certain things?”

“Nope,” the former Olympian insisted, adding that if you have days off swimming and want to go eat lunch “with your family” for example, you have to get the “okay through the head coach.”

He’s earned six gold medals, three silver and three bronze through the years.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

A charge against him was ultimately dismissed and he has since repeatedly apologized for his behaviour.

Ryan Lochte swims at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials.Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Her teammate Gabriel Santos was also with her, but a Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) spokesperson told PEOPLE that she was sent home due to the fact she “aggressively and disrespectfully challenged the Technical Committee’s lineup for the qualifiers for the women’s 4x100m relay,” as well as leaving the Village.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“COB received a statement this Saturday, the 27th, from the Head of the Brazilian Swimming Team, Gustavo Otsuka, informing that swimmers Ana Carolina Vieira and Gabriel Santos committed acts of indiscipline,” the release read.

“With this, in agreement with the members of the Technical Committee of the sport, with the Head of the Team and with the Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA), the COB decided to punish the two athletes for having left the Olympic Village without authorization during the night of last Friday,” the release added.

source: people.com