Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte Admits He Has No Idea What Yom Kippur Is
— U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte confused Yom Kippur and a Canadian national holiday during an interview.
Lochte’s publicist said during an interview with the swimmer and New York Magazine reporter Jessica Pressler published on Sunday that she was able to get away from the office to join the interview at a mall in Los Angeles because work was slow due to Yom Kippur.
The interview continues:
“What’s that?” Lochte asks curiously.
“It’s the Jewish Day of Atonement.”
“Wasn’t it their Thanksgiving two days ago?”
“That was *Canadian** *Thanksgiving.”
“Oh,” says Lochte, shifting his hands in his pocket and pulling out his phone, which, as it turns out, has been butt-dialing people.
Lochte, 32, has won six Olympic gold medals, but his image was tarnished after he and three other American swimmers falsely claimed they were robbed at gunpoint during this summer’s Rio Olympics after they had an altercation with a gas station convenience store security guard.
He is currently competing on the latest season of Dancing with the Stars.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
