fbpx

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has no idea what Yom Kippur is

U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte confused Yom Kippur and a Canadian national holiday during an interview.
[additional-authors]
October 18, 2016

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.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

A Night of Gratitude Honoring Dennis Prager

Latest Articles

A Jewish Victory

In the face of growing anti-Israel and antisemitic conduct in public schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District has delivered an important victory for our community.

Unbreakable Blue Thread: Reclaiming Our Past and Our Future

I write to you, all you first and second generations, and I assure you from generations five, six and seven that if we keep doing what we need to do, if we stand together, keep our traditions, educate ourselves in our ancient wisdom, keep Hebrew spoken and sung in our midst, we will not only endure. We Jews will thrive.

Unstuck in the Middle with You

Kwall, the Raymond P. Niro Law Professor at DePaul University College of Law, argues for a center defined by enough common commitments to make communal life possible.

Sewage Without Borders

Israel’s water security depends on what flows into the sea on the other side of all of them, and our water policy should start from that reality.

Torah Portion: Vayera

The parsha ends with the binding of Isaac, the Akeida, probably the darkest chapter in the entire Torah.

Let Them Talk

If we want our younger generations to love our faith, our culture, and our peoplehood, we need to be welcoming when they show interest and have a spark of curiosity.

A Wild and Improbable Story Hits Israel

It turns out that claim about Israel being a democracy wasn’t just propaganda. The two million Arabs who live in the world’s only Jewish state really do have the power to vote.

Why I Came to Vote in Israel

My journey to the ballot box was circuitous. The path I hope Israel will follow is derech Adonai: the way of righteousness and justice.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.