"I don't care if you're Michael Jordan" - Ryan Lochte explains one thing he hates about some superstar athletes

Ryan Lochte recently slammed some superstar athletes for failing to engage with their fans. Lochte emphasized that fans are the foundation of an athlete's success and highlighted the need to build a connection with them.

In addition to his successful swimming career, the backstroke and individual medley specialist is well known for his strong relationship with his fans. However, he recently expressed his disappointment over how athletes are sometimes indifferent to their supporters and stressed the importance of properly connecting with the fans. During a conversation with Pamela Comiter on her 'Shut Up! Tell Me More' podcast, Lochte said:

"It's not about me. The reason why I love swimming, but yes, for my dreams and goals, but it's also for the fans. That's what I hate about some superstar athletes; they don't give the time or day; I don't care if you're Michael Jordan... It comes with what you do. Oh no, don't be afraid, I'll come up and give you a big hug; we're going to have a blast." [30:37 onwards on Apple Podcasts]

Ryan Lochte is one of the most accomplished swimmers in the world, with a career spanning multiple Olympic Games. He has won 12 Olympic medals—six gold, three silver and three bronze—across his four Summer Games appearances.

Notably, he is one of the few swimmers to have medaled in every Olympic competition he participated in. In addition, his seven individual Olympic medals make him the second most decorated Olympic swimmer behind his compatriot Michael Phelps.

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"Every medal I've ever won, I've given them away to fans" - Ryan Lochte has gifted every medal of his career to his supporters

Ryan Lochte Visits Central Park Aquatic Complex (Source: Getty)

In a September 2020 interview with Graham Bensinger on his YouTube channel, Ryan Lochte revealed that he has given every medal he ever won to his fans, including the one he earned after breaking the 200m backstroke world record at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne.

"Every medal that I've ever won, I don't have, I've given them away," he said. "So back in 2007, when I broke a world record, I gave that medal away and I give them all away to fans because that moment when I put that medal around their neck, they're like either crying histerically because they're so excited or they're smiling from ear to ear." [0:15 onwards]

"I'm like that's why I do this, just for that, I love that. Like it makes me want to swim and train even harder and get more medals so I can be able to do that and give that spark to someone else," he added.

Along with his Olympics success, Ryan Lochte has also amassed a remarkable 65 World Championship medals, including 39 gold, 15 silver and 11 bronze.