Olympic gold medalist Tyler Clary -- the guy who smashed Ryan Lochte's backstroke record -- turned down an invite to chill with President Obama at the White House ... all so he can race stock cars instead.

If you didn't know ... POTUS and the First Lady invited all the 2012 Olympic athletes to the White House for a special get together on September 14th ... the shin-dig includes time with the president ... a VIP reception ... the works.

But sources tell TMZ ... the swimmer has dreams of being a pro race car driver after his swimming career ends ... he's opting to be in Fontana, CA instead to test drive cars for a few days and then hit up the MAVTV 500 IndyCar event on September 15.

We're told Clary is serious about his future racing career ... he's already been courted by several IndyCar and NASCAR teams and sponsors since returning from London.


225 mph or rub elbows with the most powerful guy on the planet ... tough call?

U.S. Olympic track star Nick Symmonds just ran a mile in 5:19 ... which isn't very impressive ... until you realize he chugged 4 BEERS along the way.

Symmonds was gunning for the world record in something called the "Beer Mile" ... which requires athletes to chug an entire "full-sized" brewski at the beginning of the race ... and another full can of suds at every quarter-mile mark along the way.

28-year-old Symmonds -- who finished 5th in the 800m race at the Olympics in London -- was hoping to break the world record, 5:09, set by Canadian marathon legend Jim Finlayson.

So, Tuesday in Oregon ... armed with a case of Coors ... Nick chased after the record, with a crowd of friends cheering on along the way ... but despite his best effort, Symmonds came up 6 seconds short.

Still, Nick tells TMZ he won't give up his dream ... and plans to continue his training in hopes of winning the title some time in the near future.

Go USA!

Ryan Lochte's annoying catchphrase "Jeah!" is a friggin' GOLD MINE -- at least that's what the swimmer believes ... because he just filed docs to lock up a trademark for the made-up word.

According to the trademark docs,  Ryan wants to use the word on sunglasses, workout DVDs, gift cards, mugs, drinking glasses, trading cards, calendars, posters, swimsuits, swim caps, sports hats, and water bottles.

In fact, Lochte's already getting the party started on his website -- selling "Jeah"-themed tees, hats, and sunglasses.

According to a 2009 interview, Ryan got the phrase from rapper Young Jeezy, who uses a similar word "Chea!" in his songs. Ryan says he changed it a little to "Jeah!" ... and says it means something "good." (skip to 1:00)



The trademark app is still pending.

Abby Wambach TRAINED HER ASS OFF to lead the U.S. soccer team to a gold medal ... and yesterday she celebrated the victory by letting herself go ... with PIZZA AND BEER!!!

Wambach was out with some pals at Paisano's Pizza in Hermosa Beach, CA ... doing a little well-deserved boozy day partying with her new best friend ... the gold medal.

FYI -- Wambach is a frickin' badass ... who got punched in the face by a cheap-shotting Colombian in one of the early rounds of the Olympics ... and GOT UP.

Go USA!!

The East Coast leg of Gabby Douglas' post-Olympic media blitz started right at JFK yesterday ... 'cause the second she stepped off the plane she was SWARMED by fans, autograph seekers and paparazzi.

Thanks to some help from the NYPD, the 16-year-old gold medal winner made it to her waiting SUV without incident.

Gabby's a valuable commodity these days -- according to Forbes, she's expected to rake in between $5 and $10 million in sponsorship deals over the next 4 years. 

Go USA!

Nas wasn't planning on being in the stands when Team USA played for the gold medal in basketball ... he wasn't planning on partying with the guys after the game either ... until Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James talked him into it ... and gave him free courtside tickets.

It's good to have rich friends.

Here's the story -- Nas had been in London to headline a concert and was 6 hours from getting on his return flight back to the States ... when he got a call from his pal Carmelo Anthony.

Nas' rep told us ... the rapper has been friends with 'Melo and 'Bron for a while, and the two made it clear they REALLY wanted Nas to attend the game ... and offered to get him some pretty sick seats if he was down to change his flight.

Nas' rep tells us ... the rapper didn't have to think twice before taking the guys up on their offer ... changing his ticket immediately and extending his hotel room stay because "He didn't want to miss history."

Of course, Team USA CRUSHED Spain in the finals ... and the rapper joined the champions in the gold medal after-party.

Nas' rep tells us, "He's very thankful that Carmelo and LeBron looked out for him ... It was a moment that he will always remember."

Usain Bolt is OUT OF HIS MIND ... at least according to Bruce Jenner ... who doesn't think the Jamaican sprinter was living in reality when he called himself the greatest athlete of all time.

Jenner -- who took home the gold in the decathlon in the 1976 Olympics -- was leaving LAX this weekend when we asked him about the declaration of greatness Bolt made about himself after dominating at the Olympics last week

"He's the best sprinter," Jenner said ... adding, "He can't pole vault, he can't throw anything ... that's an athlete."

Jenner made it clear ... he believes decathletes rank the highest when deciding "most athletic" ... and when asked if Bolt would be able to compete in his sport, Bruce didn't hold back ..."He would be terrible."

Michael Phelps really meant it when he decided to go on a guys only vacation to the Maldives ... and TMZ has the bro-tastic pics to prove it. 

As TMZ first reported, Phelps opted to skip traveling with his super hot new girlfriend, Megan Rossee, and instead traveled to the notoriously expensive island destination with his best boys.

Our source described the trip as "a relaxing bro getaway" that featured a lot of lounging, boating and (of course) drinking.

And he still has this to come home to. Good life.

It's been almost two years since "The Social Network" came out, but Jesse Eisenberg is somehow still being mistaken for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ... even at the Olympics!

During the telecast of the men's basketball gold medal game, the camera cut to Eisenberg in the crowd. The announcer, Bob Fitzgerald, tried to make a joke of it, saying, "I know I'm gonna put that picture on Facebook. We've got every executive of note, it seems worldwide, attending these Games."

Someone get this guy a Netlfix subscription.

Two weeks of Olympics coverage got you burnt out?

Check out TMZ's suggestions on how to combine some of your favorite events to make the Phelps-free 2016 Rio games even more exciting!

Training starts now.

No one can ever accuse Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney of not having a sense of humor ... because even she is jumping on the McKayla Is Not Impressed bandwagon.

For those who don't know ... a photo of a scowling McKayla (see below) was taken after she won the silver medal in the vault competition. It spawned a Photoshop movement of putting McKayla in various places ... looking unimpressed (as best evidenced by the site mckaylaisnotimpressed.tumblr.com).

McKayla got in on the gag herself today, posting a photo of herself recreating the face with fellow Fab Fivers Kyla Ross and Aly Raisman.

We give it a perfect score.