Dear Ryan Lochte...

Dear Ryan Lochte-
The past 2 weeks, I've been slightly (ok...maybe not slightly) obsessed with the Olympics. Anyone who knows me knows that I've watched many, many hours of Olympics coverage, read tons and tons of athlete bios, and cried many, many tears of joy and heartbreak alongside of the athletes. I might not be there in Rio, but I feel as though I know those athletes, love their stories, and am there cheering them on every step of the way.

AND the USA Swimming Team...I've LOVED every minute of those events y'all participated in. Such a fantastic team to watch! I've jumped up and down in my apartment, screaming at my tv more times than I care to admit during those races. Your team made me cry more tears of joy than any other team this Olympics, for sure.

You know, I've cried some tears about you too. When I first heard the first story about what happened, I was sad and scared for you and your teammates. I couldn't believe that you had been "robbed." It sounded like such a crazy story, and as I said, I felt like the athletes I knew and loved and part of this team I loved the most was in trouble. Of course, now that I have heard the whole story, I realize that perhaps those tears weren't necessary.

I just watched your interview with Matt Lauer. Whew. He didn't let you off the hook, and honestly, I'm glad he didn't. I feel like he forced you to answer questions that no one else has asked, and he made you own up to what really happened.

And as you said, you were immature (I'd say stupid, but perhaps "immature" is a more polite way to put it...) and made a mistake. You had too much to drink, made some dumb choices, and lied about it, because you couldn't remember what really happened.

What hit me the most is when you said "that's not who I am." You're right. It's not. I think so many times we find our identity in what we do, rather than who we are. Your identity is not that of an Olympic athlete. Your identity is not that of a member of the US Swimming Team. Your identity is not even that of a guy who had too much to drink and made a terrible choice. No. None of this is your identity. You're a child of God. That's your identity.

Many times we let our mistakes or what we do or can't do become who we are, and we forget that the Lord doesn't give us an identity based on what we do. He cares more about who we are, how we love one another, and how we live into our identity as a child of God.

My hope and sincere prayer for you, Ryan, is that you really have learned something from this. Learned that alcohol makes you do things that you regret; learned that alcohol is just an escape that never brings true joy or happiness but only makes you numb; learned that alcohol doesn't just affect you but affects those around you; learned that alcohol is NEVER the answer. You said you've learned, and I sincerely hope you have.

I also hope and pray that if you aren't allowed to swim again, if you are banned as people has suggested you should be, I pray that you remember again, your identity is not what you do, but who you are. I pray you continue towards "betterment" as you said. I also hope and pray that you realize true betterment can only come from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lastly, I hope and pray you know there is grace. Christ freely gives us grace, and I pray you find that.

Ryan, we all make mistakes, and unfortunately for you, as someone who is well-known, your mistake is known all over the world. We're human, as you said. But what is different and what can be different for you, is to know that even in your mistake, there is grace, there is forgiveness, and there is a loving Savior who loves you no matter what.

I truly hope and pray that you have changed, and this experience has been a wake up call.

Signed,
Anna, an Olympic fan and a fan of Christ's grace