Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte says he contemplated suicide after fake Rio gunpoint robbery claims
US SWIMMER Ryan Lochte has revealed he considered suicide after the drunken escapade at the Rio Olympics which triggered an international scandal.
CCTV footage showed the group had vandalised the petrol station and Lochte later admitted he had "over-exaggerated" his story.
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Speaking to ESPN Lochte said: "After Rio, I was probably the most hated person in the world.
"There were a couple of points where I was crying, thinking, 'If I go to bed and never wake up, fine.'"
Asked if that meant he considered killing himself, Lochte nodded and added: "I was about to hang up my entire life.";
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Lochte has spoken previously of the depression that followed the scandal.
He was banned from swimming for 10 months - a suspension that ends on June 30.
During his suspension he has competed in a meet not sanctioned by USA Swimming and says he plans to try to make the 2020 Olympic team.
The 12-time Olympic medalist will turn 36 during the Tokyo Games.
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