Ryan Lochte, the 12-time Olympic medalist dropped by several sponsors earlier this week after it came to light he exaggerated an incident at a gas station in Rio, will reportedly appear on the next season of Dancing with the Stars.
A source told USA Today Sports on Wednesday that the deal was in the works before the swimmer made headlines for something that happened outside the pool. Lochte originally said that while he was in Rio for the Olympics, he was held up at gunpoint by robbers at a gas station, along with three other American swimmers. Brazilian authorities said in fact the men urinated against a building and vandalized a bathroom. Over the course of an investigation, USA Today Sports discovered there is no surveillance footage showing the men doing anything in the bathroom, and video shows their cab being stopped by a man with a badge and a guard pointing his gun at Lochte. They also found that while they were detained by armed prison guards moonlighting as security, a translator worked out a deal so the swimmers would only have to pay about $50 for damage done by Lochte to a poster.
Lochte's team says that despite being dropped by Speedo and other major brands, he is receiving inquiries from new companies interested in backing him. The 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars premieres on Sept. 12, and the cast will be revealed next Tuesday on Good Morning America.
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