I must confess that Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte makes my pulse quicken. Yes, I’m a Marylander who should think all things aquatic begin and end with our own
Michael Phelps. Phelps is a genuine sports legend, but Lochte is medal-worthy in both swimming and looks IMHO.
If you watched his recent interview with NBC Today show’s Matt Lauer, Lochte isn’t as adept at interviews as media-savy Phelps. But he IS disarmingly honest. When he admitted to Ryan Seacrest that he has, in fact, peed in the pool, stating that “sometimes you just gotta go,” it elicited a comment from none other than British Prime Minister David Cameron who was not amused. "I'm surprised to hear that," Camerson said. "It's not OK to pee in the pool."
Lochte's laid-back approach to the art of cryptic answers to interview questions must be inherited. His mom recently stated that he didn’t really have time for developing relationships with girls due to his packed schedule, and had to make do with ‘one night stands’. Ryan laughed when he heard what his mother said, knowing that she meant he didn’t have time for more than a date here and there.
So unphased was Lochte that when comedian Will Ferrell contacted him about doing a “Funny or Die” YouTube clip on pool-peeing, Ryan jumped right in. Tongue firmly in cheek, he remarked that he plans on writing a book called “Fifty Shades of Yellow” and producing a series of podcasts redubbed “peecasts”.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bbf2c287fe/peeing-in-pools-with-ryan-lochte?rel=player
Whether they will publicly admit it or not, most people have peed in the water during recreational swimming. And until a safe, urine-activated marker is
invented for chlorinated pools to embarrass swimmers into compliance, it will
continue. Note here that it is an urban legend that a substance has already been invented. Despite their parents’ instructions, kids are prone to use the pool rather than disrupt their fun to seek out a restroom. And, I suspect it isn’t
restricted to the under-18 age group either.
If you’ve ever wondered about how safe it is to swim with the bladder-challenged group, just keep your mouth closed while you read the following.
Think chlorine kills everything? It does kill many germs, but when it mixes with urine, it can cause irritants that produce a skin rash and red eyes.
Remember the once-ubiquitous signs that demanded everyone shower before entering the pool? Few people shower with soap before entering a pool, but it does help prevent illness by removing germs from the skin. And the nether regions of our bodies can pack a germ-filled wallop.
Also, cryptosporidium bacteria are chlorine resistant and are the main cause of
gastroenteritis from swimming in pools. While the proper amount of chlorine will kill most bacteria within a minute, it’s worth noting that during public pool inspections, one in eight pools are shut down temporarily for improper chlorine levels, according to the Center for Disease Control.
So, although I doubt he'd be interested, I'd swim with Ryan Lochte anytime. I'm just not going to do it with my mouth open.
M. Sullivan
8:46 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
This has got to be the most disgusting article I have ever read in any Patch. First of all, just because you would like to think so to ease your own guilt, I sincerely doubt that most people (especially over the age of 5) have peed in a pool. Remind me to never swim in a pool where you have swum. I statement like that can make kids and stupid people think that this is OK to do. Do you also not wash your hands after using the bathroom? Second, if by some miracle Ryan Lochte wants to go swimming with you, I hope you both have the pool all to yourselves so you can swim in your own urine.
kathleen barker
11:53 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Sorry that you didn't like the post. Perhaps someday you will recover your sense of humor and not be so prone to vindictive, personal attacks.
Alison DeLuca
12:46 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I think this column is merely a humorous commentary on one Olympian's unguarded confession. He told the truth; would you prefer that he tell lies?
Furthermore, I think it is quite a stretch to extrapolate that to handwashing in a restroom.
In other words, Lighten up, Francis!
M. Sullivan
2:15 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I am completely amazed that women, especially, would find this humorous. I guess there's no accounting for taste. And Alison, I don't think comparing it to not handwashing in the restroom is a stretch at all. Both actions show a total lack of concern with spreading your germs to others, although peeing in the pool is far worse. What is wrong with you people ?
Gary
1:11 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Great blog! I've just started trying to swim at my gym and I'd never think to pee in the pool. But if it works for Ryan Lochte, maybe I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the idea . . .
M. Sullivan
2:22 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Thus is proven one of my points in my first post.
Gary
6:49 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Are you really so dim that you think I'm seriously considering peeing in a pool because of this article? Get a life.
kathleen barker
3:20 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
All that your posts prove is that you are humorless, self-righteous and historically prone to having your mean-spirited posts deleted.
M. Sullivan
3:30 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Boy, talk about vindictive personal attacks! At least I am not uncouth enough to pee in a public pool. Also, for your information, out of probably a hundred posts, I have only had 3 deleted.
kathleen barker
3:52 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
"Pins medal on MS's chest and nominates him for sainthood." And now I will end my replies to this series of ego-thumping, flame missives where humor is twisted as proof of poor hygiene.
M. Sullivan
3:56 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa ! I am also tired of this pointless banter. I think I'll just walk next door and pee into their pool!
Rachel Tsoumbakos
5:39 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
If it's good enough for an Olympic athlete, I finally have a decent excuse to use.....;-P
jeh
7:35 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I thought this was funny. It must be nice to be so perfect as to never have made a little "mistake" while swimming. May we all strive to be such.