ABC News(NEW YORK) — U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte said he made a “big mistake” when he claimed to have been held up at gunpoint during the Rio Olympics but that he thinks the reaction to the scandal that also implicated three of his U.S. Swimming teammates is “everyone blowing this way out of proportion.”
“Like I said, I did lie about that one part,” Lochte, 32, said Tuesday on Good Morning America, referring to his claim that a gun was held to his head. “I take full responsibility. I’m human. I made a mistake. A very big mistake.”
“It’s something that I learned from and I know that will never happen again,” he said.
Lochte was dropped by four sponsors in the aftermath of the scandal, including Ralph Lauren and Speedo.
Lochte is now turning his attention outside the pool, announcing Tuesday that he will be a celebrity competitor on Season 23 of Dancing With the Stars.
“I’m never one to dwell on the past. I just want to move forward,” he said. “Everyone has got to be sick and tired about hearing about this. I just want to move forward.”
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