Ryan Lochte was born in Rochester, New York. At age 12, his family moved to Florida when his father took a coaching job in Daytona Beach. Lochte only began taking swimming seriously when he was in junior high school. His father said, "I would send him to go shower when he was messing around. He spent more time in the showers than he did in the pool." At 14 years old, his loss at the Junior Olympics changed his attitude. He later commented: "I suddenly said, 'I'm sick of losing'. After that I trained hard and I never lost there again." 

Ryan Lochte went on to compete in 4 Olympics where he was a 12-time medalist which makes him the third most decorated swimmer in Olympic history behind only Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. He has also been named the FINA Swimmer of the Year three times. He has won a total of 90 medals in major international competition (54 gold, 22 silver, and 14 bronze) spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, Pan American Games, and Pan Pacific Championships, including six Olympic gold medals and 39 world championship titles. 

Lochte graduated from the University of Florida with a major in sport management. Swimming for coach Gregg Troy, he was named NCAA Swimmer of the Year while winning seven individual titles and setting several American records from 2004 through 2007. 

Since his “retirement,” Ryan has been involved with multiple ventures. He had his own TV show “What Would Ryan Lochte Do” along with appearances on episodes of “Dancing with the Stars,” “3rd Rock,” “90210,” game show “Celebrity Big Brother,” and his character appeared in “Family Guy,” to name a few. Lochte has also appeared in commercials for the Nissan Altima and been on the covers of Vogue, Time, Men's Health, and Men's Journal. He has had endorsement deals with Speedo, TYR, Mutual of Omaha, Gillette, Gatorade, Procter and Gamble, Ralph Lauren, Nissan, and AT&T. 

Ryan and his wife, Kayla Rae Reid, have 3 children - Caiden, Liv, and Georgia.