Peacock Releases Trailer for “The Traitors” Competition Series Featuring Ryan Lochte

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Is Ryan Lochte a traitor or a faithful?

Peacock has released the trailer for the inaugural season of The Traitors, featuring the 37-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer and former Olympian.

The Traitors is based on a Dutch format and the U.S. version comes on the heels of the success of the BBC version, which concluded in December 2022.

Set in a remote castle in the Scottish Highlands, the show brings celebrities and civilians together to complete a series of challenges with the objective of earning a cash prize of up to $250,000.

The catch? Three of the contestants coined “the traitors” will devise a plan to steal the prize from the other contestants coined “the faithful.”

Peacock will drop all 10 episodes of the series on January 12.

The Traitors will feature reality stars and celebrity contestants including:

Arie Luyendyk Jr. (Bachelor/Bachelorette)
Brandi Glanville (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Cirie Fields (Survivor)
Cody Calafiore (Big Brother)
Kate Chastain (Below Deck)
Kyle Cooke (Summer House)
Rachel Reilly (Big Brother)
Reza Farahan (Shahs of Sunset)
Ryan Lochte (Olympian)
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Survivor)

Civilians who will join the celebrities in alliances, deception, and even “murder” include:

Christian De La Torre (Veteran & Van Life Influencer) — Los Angeles, CA
Michael Davidson (DMV Office Manager) — Oneida, KY
Andie Thurmond (Director of Music Services) — Reno, NV
Quentin Jiles (Political Analyst) — Houston, TX
Shelbe Rodriguez (Public Affairs Manager) — Beaumont, TX
Geraldine Moreno (Actress) — North Hollywood, CA
Robert “Bam” Nieves (Tech Sales Executive) — Rye, NY
Anjelica Conti (Hair Stylist) — Staten Island, NY
Azra Valani (Yoga Instructor) — Los Angeles, CA
Amanda Clark (Emergency Room Nurse) — Carlisle, PA

Ryan Lochte’s Six Olympic Silver & Bronze Medals Up for Auction

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte is parting with some of his Olympic medals for a good cause…

The 37-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer has put all of his Olympic silver and bronze medals up for auction, with the proceeds going to a charity benefiting children.

Lochte earned 12 medals over four Olympics, including six gold that he plans to keep for now.

“I’m not one to be all sentimental about medals,” Lochte told The Associated Press. “My medals are just sitting in my closet collecting dust. The memories that I have is what means the most.”

The medals are being sold in three lots by Boston-based RR Auction. The sale ends July 21.

The first lot is Lochte’s first individual Olympic medal, a silver in the 200-meter individual medley from the 2004 Athens Games in which Michael Phelps won gold. It has an estimate of $10,000 or more.

The second lot is a pair of bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing Games, in which Lochte finished third in the 200 IM and 400 IM. The estimate is $12,000 or more.

The third lot features three medals from the 2012 London Games. Lochte finished second in the 200 IM, second in the 4×100 freestyle relay, and third in the 200 backstroke. The estimate is $60,000 or more.

Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, said the medals were consigned by a person who received them from Lochte and wishes to remain anonymous.

“They’re in perfect condition. They have beautiful ribbons,” Livingston said. “Ryan’s are obviously extremely interesting to people who collect medals.”

Lochte confirmed he is not the direct seller.

“I gave them to a third party,” he said. “Everything we earn is going straight to the charity.”

Also for sale is a 14-karat white gold Olympic ring and a Breitling watch with black diamonds. Lochte bought both items for himself after the London Games.

His selected charity is Jorge Nation Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money to send children with a terminal illness and their families on a dream trip from South Florida to a destination of their choice. Lochte said he has worked with the foundation for over 10 years. His agent is on its board of directors.

“This year I really wanted to focus on giving back. I’m loving it,” he said. “I’ve been teaming with my dad doing swim clinics and I’m coming out with my own sunscreen.”

During his career, Lochte routinely gave away his medals from national competitions to kids in the crowd.

Lochte hasn’t competed at a major meet since last year’s U.S. Olympic trials. He didn’t make the team for Tokyo. Last month, he raced in an ocean swim in the Cayman Islands and finished 14th.

“One mile in the ocean is a lot different than in the pool,” he said. “I swear I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

He’s contemplating shedding some of his six golds in the future. He wants to keep his first individual gold from the 200 back in Beijing and another for his dad, Steve.

“Those medals mean a lot to me; I worked my [rear] off for them,” Lochte said, “but helping other people out is more important to me, especially because I have kids of my own.”

Lochte’s 12 medals are tied for second most among swimmers, trailing only Phelps’ Olympic record of 28.

Ryan Lochte Wins 200-Meter Individual Medley at U.S. National Championships

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte is big atop the winner’s podium…

The 35-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer won the 200-meter individual medley at the U.S. National Championships, fresh off a 14-month ban.

The 12-time Olympic medalist touched in 1 minute, 57.76 seconds on Sunday — 1.07 ahead of runner-up Shaine Casas— to earn his first national title since 2014.

Lochte’s time was quicker than his time-trial effort of 1:57.88 in the event four days earlier, which didn’t count toward qualifying for the national team.

It was the lone victory and only final of the five-day meet for Lochte, who turned 35 a day earlier. He finished 37th in the 200 freestyle preliminaries, fourth in the C final of the 100 butterfly, and scratched the B final of the 100 backstroke.

Lochte was competing for the first time since the recent end of a 14-month suspension for receiving an infusion of vitamin B12 above the allowable limit.

Ryan Lochte Makes Emphatic Return to Competition at the U.S. National Championships

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte is back in a big way…

The 34-year-old Cuban American Olympic champion made an emphatic return to competition Wednesday, swimming the fourth-fastest time by an American in the 200-meter individual medley during a time trial at the Phillips 66 National Championships at Stanford University.

“I’m back, Woo!” Lochte proclaimed in his opening remarks on the pool deck at Avery Aquatic Center after qualifying for the U.S. Olympic trials with the time of 1 minute, 57.88 seconds. “It’s been a long three years but it’s good to be back, get on those blocks and race again.”

Lochte is entered in the 100 butterfly, 100 and 200 backstrokes and 200 and 400 IM this week, though he hasn’t decided which events he’ll focus on for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I don’t do that much anymore,” Lochte said. “I’ve been splotchy with my swimming. Family trumps everything. Swimming has been my second priority. Nationals, for me, is a stepping stone to see where I’m at in the swimming world. It’s a long journey to next year to see what I can do.”

Lochte said he’s not the same man he was three years ago, when he partied hard during and following the 2016 Rio Olympics, in which he was involved in a fake police report. Last year, he was given a 14-month suspension for receiving an infusion of vitamin B-12 above the allowed limit.

The meet is his first event since the suspension ended last week. During that time, he checked himself into a rehab center for six weeks to fight alcohol abuse.

“There was a point in my life where I needed to change, so I checked myself in,” Lochte said. “My wife was pregnant and I needed to help her. I did all the classes and got out. Since Caiden and my new daughter, Liv, I have a new perspective on life.”

He said he has limited himself to a glass of wine to celebrate the birth of his daughter but that’s been the extent of his alcohol intake since going to rehab.

“There are bigger and better things in my life,” he said. “I’m glad I went to rehab. I needed help and I came out a better man.”

Competing in his fifth Olympics motivates him in the pool. His family drives him to succeed.

“I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone,” Lochte said. “My big goal is 2020 and to reach the podium. I do it for me and my family. I’m having fun again. I haven’t had fun since the 2012 Olympics. My wife and kids have been my backbone. It’s awesome.”

Hernandez to Compete on Season 23 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Laurie Hernandez is heading from the beam to the ballroom…

The 16-year-old Puerto Rican gymnast, who helped lead Team USA’s Women’s Gymnastics team to gold at the 2016 Rio Games, has joined ABC’s Dancing with the Stars for Season 23.

Hernandez, who won an individual silver medal for her balance beam routine at the 2016 Summer Olympics, will be paired with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

But Hernandez isn’t the only Hispanic celebrity hitting the dance floor this season…

Controversial Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, will compete this season. The 32-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer and 12-time Olympic medalist, who said he made a “very big mistake” when he claimed to have been held up at gunpoint during the Rio Games, will be paired with professional dancer Cheryl Burke.

Meanwhile, former The Fosters star Jake T. Austin will also make a bid for the Mirror Ball trophy. The 21-year-old part-Puerto Rican, Argentine and Spanish actor will be paired with professional dancer Jenna Johnson.

Other celebrity competitors set to foxtrot their way onto the show include Former Texas governor and GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Indy race car driver James Hinchcliffe, Brady Bunch’s Maureen McCormick, actress Marilu Henner, Amber Rose, rapper/reality star Vanilla Ice, R&B singer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Little Women: LA’s Terra Jole, and country music singer/actress Jana Kramer.

Season 23 will see the return of pros Derek and Julianne Hough, who last appeared in 2015. Derek, a six-time Dancing champ, will be back as a dancer, while Julianne will serve as a judge.

Also returning is pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, He last appeared in 2014 when he and Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis won the mirror ball trophy in Season 18. And Burke is back, after leaving the show in 2014.

Julianne Hough, a former pro dancer on the show, is expected to be joined at the judge’s table by Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman, who judged with Hough the past two iterations of the ballroom dance competition series.

Here are the new season’s dance pairings:

Cheryl Burke with Ryan Lochte
Maksim Chmerkovskiy with Amber Rose
Valentin Chmerkovskiy with Laurie Hernandez
Emma Slater with Rick Perry
Derek Hough with Marilu Henner
Artem Chigvintsev with Maureen McCormick
Sasha Farber with Terra Jole
Witney Carson with Vanilla Ice
Lindsay Arnold with Calvin Johnson
Jenna Johnson with Jake T. Austin
Allison Holker with Babyface
Sharna Burgess with James Hinchcliffe
Gleb Savchenko with Jana Kramer

The new season of Dancing With The Stars premieres on Monday, September 12.

Lochte Helps Team USA Win Swimming Gold in the 4×200 Freestyle Relay

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte has surpassed a swimming icon…

The 32-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer won his first gold medal of 2016 Rio Games and his 12th overall, swimming the third leg for the victorious U.S. 4×200 freestyle relay team on Tuesday night.

With the gold medal performance, Lochte passed Mark Spitz to become the second most decorated male Olympic swimmer of all time.

Michael Phelps swam the anchor leg, winning his second gold medal of the night, as the U.S. won an event it usually dominates by a substantial margin.

Team USA had the lead at the halfway mark thanks to Conor Dwyer (1:45.23) and Townley Haas (1:44.14), but Lochte and Phelps took the advantage to another level as the Americans beat runner-up Great Britain by more than two seconds.

With the gold in a time of 7:00.66 seconds, Lochte also passed his hero Matt Biondi to become the second-most-decorated American male swimmer in history behind Phelps with 12 Olympic medals — half of them gold.

It’s the 21st Olympic gold medal for Phelps, who continues to build on his seemingly unbeatable medal count of 25.

Team USA has won the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay on 17 occasions at the Olympic Games, a record for most wins by one country in a single swimming event.

Lochte needs a medal in Thursday’s 200m individual medley to pass American women Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin to become the second-most-decorated swimmer behind Phelps and the fourth-most-decorated athlete regardless of sport.

Lochte to Compete in the 200M Individual Medley at the 2016 Summer Games

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte will return to the Olympics this year to compete in his favorite event…

The 31-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer matched Michael Phelps stroke for stroke in the 200-meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials on Friday night, both surging to the wall in almost perfect sync.

Phelps got there first, just ahead of Lochte, the guy who has pushed him hard for more than a decade.

It was the latest epic of their longtime rivalry — and billed as the last showdown in their home country before the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

“Ryan and I always have a great race with one another,” said Phelps, who plans to retire again after his fifth Olympics. “When we race each other, we bring each other to a different level.”

Phelps led from start to finish, but Lochte was right with him all the way. In fact, Lochte seemed to pull even midway through the final lap, but Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, managed to get to the wall in 1 minute, 55.91 seconds.

Lochte was next at 1:56.22 and had no complaints about the consolation prize: his only individual race at the Olympics.

“I knew going into this race it was definitely going to be a dogfight to the end,” Lochte said. “It’s been a long journey, but the journey’s not over. We still have another month to get ready and show the world that the U.S. is number one.”

Lochte, an 11-time medalist, injured his groin on the first day of the meet, struggled in his next few races and was down to his final chance to get a swim of his own at the Summer Games.

Now, that’s out of the way, which means Phelps and Lochte will get another crack at each other in South America.

As a three-time defending gold medalist in the 200 IM, Phelps will be the favorite. But he knows Lochte won’t be far behind, especially with a month to recover from the groin issue.

“I don’t know of another person in this world who brings out the best in me like he does,” said Phelps, who has 18 golds and 22 medals overall. “Neither one of us likes to lose.”

Lochte to Compete for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte is heading to Rio de Janeiro…

The 31-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer, an 11-time Olympic medalist, failed for the second time to seal a spot in an individual event after finishing fourth overall (1:46.62) in Tuesday’s 200-meter freestyle final at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska, but that finish put him on the 4×200 relay team for Team USA.

Lochte, who is swimming with a nagging groin injury, was previously shut out of the 400 individual medley on Sunday.

“I’m just happy that I’m going to Rio,” Lochte said. “You can never go in knowing that you’re going to make the team, just because the U.S. is one of the hardest countries to make the Olympic team.”

Lochte Beats Michael Phelps in the 200 IM at the U.S. National Championships

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte is one step closer to finding his Olympic form…

The 30-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer, an 11-time Olympic medalist, beat his rival Michael Phelps to win the 200-meter individual medley at the U.S. national championships Sunday night, leaving Phelps winless in four races at his biggest meet since coming out of retirement.

But Lochte and Phelps weren’t in their usual lanes at the center of the pool, spots that go to the fastest qualifiers.

Lochte was in Lane 2, and Phelps was in Lane 6. They couldn’t see each other, either, with Phelps breathing toward the stands and Lochte the other way.

Still, the race came down to the two old rivals, with Phelps chasing Lochte for a change.

Lochte, the world champion, led all the way and touched in 1 minute, 56.50 seconds.

He’s coming off major knee surgery and had a setback at a meet in April, all of which limited his time in the water.

“This year has been up and down, but I’m glad I got a win knowing that I really haven’t done the work I wanted to,” he said. “I always relied on my training, but this year I haven’t done that training, so my confidence was low.”

Lochte’s time was the second fastest in the world this year; Phelps’ was third quickest.

“If you go out in that race, it’s pretty painful in the end,” Phelps said.

It was Lochte’s first victory of the five-day meet after finishing second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 200 backstroke.

“I guess we can say this is kind of our off year,” Lochte said of him and Phelps. “Well, I can say that.”

Lochte Outlasts Michael Phelps in the 100-Meter Butterfly at the Arena Grand Prix

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Phelps may be making a comeback… But, Ryan Lochte is the King of the Pool in the 100-meter butterfly.

The 29-year-old half-Cuban swimmer and 11-time Olympic medalist beat Phelps in the event final at the Arena Grand Prix on Thursday night.

Lochte touched first in 51.93 seconds, second-fastest in the world this year. Phelps took second in 52.13 in his first meet since retiring after the 2012 London Games.

“I swam a final again,” a smiling Phelps said. “I said I wanted to be around 52.0 and I would be completely happy with that.”

Phelps is the three-time Olympic champion and current world record-holder in the event. His time tied for fourth-fastest in the world.

“It’s one meet; it’s one race,” Phelps said. “It’s a long way whether I decide to continue or not. This was awesome. I’m really excited about how things went. I do know what I need to do if I want to continue and swim faster.”

Olympian Jason Dunford of Kenya finished third in 53.08.

Swimming before a sellout crowd and lots of cameras, Lochte led at the turn and Phelps was second.

“Down there at the turn I kind of peeked over and I saw him and almost started smiling,” Lochte said about his longtime friend and rival.

Phelps interjected, “Why? Because you were ahead?”

“I probably wouldn’t have gone that time if Phelps wasn’t in that pool with me. We push each other all the time,” said Lochte, whose rivalry and friendship with Phelps dates to 2004.

Lochte is trying to regain his own form after missing five months with a knee injury. He changed coaches and relocated from Florida to Charlotte, N.C., after the London Games.

Coach Bob Bowman said Phelps was better technically in the morning than at night.

“He missed a whole stroke on the turn,” Bowman said. “My expectations were he would come and maybe enjoy it and not be terrible, so all those were met. That’s a really good time to start with.”

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