Ryan Lochte on being offered D1 scholarships in basketball and swimming - Night Swim Podcast
Ryan Lochte reveals what it was like being offered Division 1 scholarships in both **basketball and swimming**. 🏀🏊♂️ In this episode of the **Night Swim Podcast**, the Olympic legend talks about his athletic potential, choosing swimming, and the path that ultimately led him to become one of the most decorated swimmers in history. What if Lochte had chosen basketball instead? Hear the story directly from Ryan and get a unique look at the decision that helped shape his legendary career.
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🌙 Night Swim Podcast
When the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who've seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.
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Video Transcript
Can you confirm that, 'cause I say this all the time, but that me and you used to go to the gym and run to the courts with all the muggles?
Oh, yes.
Come on, basketball's still my heart.
That was one of my first scholarships was basketball.
Oh, for real?
Nice.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, what?
Yeah, to Ohio State.
When they were recruiting me, they knew I played basketball, and they were like, "Well, we're gonna give you a dual scholarship, basketball and swimming."
And I was like, "Well, they're the same season.
Like, I can't do both."
Yeah, I know how that- 'Cause I'm not gonna half-ass either one.
I'm gonna go all in, so I picked swimming.
Yeah.
I had the same deal with, uh- Hey Indiana.
Yeah.
This is blowing my mind right now.
So you could have been a basketball player at Ohio State?
Yep, but I chose swimming.
Do you regret that choice?
No, not at all.
Good choice.
No, no, no, no.
I wonder where, where do you think you would've been if you went the basketball route right now?
I don't know.
That's the thing I always tell myself, because I know my work ethic, and I will outwork anyone, and it doesn't matter, 'cause I outworked everyone outside of the pool.
Like, yes, obviously in the pool, but outside of the pool, I was doing things that no one else was doing in the sport of swimming back then, and it made me an all-around better swimmer.
So, I mean, I probably had that same mentality if I was a basketball player as well.
God.
Can you imagine Ryan Lochte in the NBA?
Sure.
It's like Guard Man, Out of Bounds.
I would have, I, I would have the best shoes in the game.
That's true.
