# Ryan Lochte. Why did the hype machine fire up on this guy to begin with?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [August 2, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216 "2012-08-02T20:39:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/1 "2012-08-02T20:39:06Z")
He’s clearly a great swimmer, no doubt about that, but why was he being hailed as the Phelps-destroyer and next-big-thing? He doesn’t seem to have done anything to set himself apart at these Os (other than win some medals, but alot of people have won some medals). He’s on about 85% of the commercials that are aired during the games.
Is it that he’s better looking than Phelps or something? He seems like kind of a douche. Also, isn’t he the same age as Phelps?
Is this kid overhyped?
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### Author:  [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/2 "2012-08-02T20:48:27Z")
I was under the impression it was because he was consistently beating Phelps in the qualifying and trial runs leading up to the Olympics.
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### Author:  [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/3 "2012-08-03T14:21:21Z")
I think the media are tiring of Phelps. He’s a boring guy.
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### Author:  [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/4 "2012-08-03T15:04:02Z")
He had an established record of success at worlds and Olympics before this. He’s taken Phelps down, repeatedly, in events that Phelps has dominated for years. He’s repeadetly broken time records. He’s qualified for _multiple_ Olympic events – remarkable in itself, despite popular complaints of “there’s too many swimming events”. He’s swimming an absurdly difficult schedule this Olympic meet – less than 20 minutes between finals _and still considered a contender for gold_.
If Phelps wasn’t around, it’d be Lochte that the media would be flogging at us with hourly interviews and retrospectives. They tend to focus on a few proven “stars” each Olympics; it’s just, the last few Olympics, Phelps has been the Chosen One. Lochte meets all their criteria… if Phelps hadn’t dragged the bar up so high.
All that, _and_ he’s good-looking, quirky, and girls think he’s dreamy.
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### Author:  [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/5 "2012-08-03T18:52:34Z")
Its the diamond grill.
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### Author:  [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/6 "2012-08-03T20:00:14Z")
Dismissing Lochte’s performances by saying “a lot of people have won some medals” is selling him short. He’s won five medals in these games (more than any swimmer other than Phelps), and has won 11 medals total, second most by an American swimmer (tied with Matt Biondi, and behind Phelps). He’s not just a great swimmer; by any reasonable standard he’s one of the greatest swimmers _ever_.
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/7 "2012-08-03T21:44:48Z")
It’s the douchebag factor. But it’s a low-key, inarticulate kind of douchebag factor. Phelps will flash his giant teeth and say something cute; Lochte will just squint and grunt.
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### Author:  [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/8 "2012-08-04T01:00:27Z")
> [@MilTan](#):
>
> He’s won five medals in these games (more than any swimmer other than Phelps), and has won 11 medals total, second most by an American swimmer (tied with Matt Biondi, and behind Phelps).
Didn’t Mark Spitz win 11 medals total? (Seven gold in Munich, and gold-gold-silver-bronze in Mexico City?)
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### Author:  [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-lochte-why-did-the-hype-machine-fire-up-on-this-guy-to-begin-with/630216/9 "2012-08-04T01:04:32Z")
Ah, you’re right. I forgot about the non-golds in 68. So tied with Spitz, too.