Olympic Mystery: Was Ryan Lochte banned from wearing diamond grill on medal stand?
Ryan Lochte turned heads at the Summer Games in London on Saturday by winning gold in the 400m individual medley, beating Michael Phelps, who finished fourth. But the gold medal isn't the only reason he's receiving plenty of attention -- it's the jewelry in his mouth, not around his neck, that's causing a stir.
Earlier on Saturday we noted that Lochte was sporting a custom-made diamond grill in his mouth on the medal stand. Though he was photographed with the grill in his mouth after the race, it looks like he was banned from wearing it on the actual medal stand.
ESPN's Wayne Drehs reported that "Lochte told me he tried to wear his grill on the podium only to have an Olympics official tell him if he did so he wouldn't get his gold."
That explains the photo on the left where Lochte's teeth are visible compared to the one on the right where you see nothing but diamonds.
Looks like the Olympic fun police are trying to ruin Lochte's swag. Let's just hope they don't ban his awesome shoes next.
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Photo credits: AP Photo/Michael Sohn; Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
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Ryan Locht is stupid...he can sure swim....but just stupid!!!
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What a jerk. Not a very good representation of the United States. He should be banned. Comes off as quite arrogant. No need for this type of behavior, especially at the Olympics. He should know that with this type of behavior no one really cares if he wins or not. I'd rather watch Phelps any day.
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In ten years he will look at these pictures and realizes he was simply an idiot for doing this and will wish all the pictures would go away. Obviously he is not in this for the money, because I am sure all the sponsors would frown on this. I am old, exactly why would anyone want to cover up their teeth in such a manner? I thought he had braces on!!!!!
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I agree he's a great swimmer, but he has no class. Wearing that thing in his mouth makes me think he grew up in poverty and now that he's successful it's "gone to his head, er..mouth". Or maybe he's intending to become a pimp after the Olympics!
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Sounds to me like the people that made comments about Ryan Locht are jealous of what he has, or of what he can do.
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well at least he's not out taking people's lives.
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Why do they treat this idiot like some kind of God? Oh wow! He can swim from one end of a pool to the other. Big deal!
