Olympics

Usain Bolt struggled to get out of bed to train for the 2016 Olympics -- saying the pressure and stress he was under took the fun out of running.

The Jamaican track legend opened up about his struggles at the premiere of "I Am Bolt" -- the new documentary about his life.

"The workload I had leading up to the Olympics and even at the 2015 World Championships meant there was so much pressure and stress that it just wasn’t fun anymore," Bolt said.

Of course, Bolt powered through it and won 3 gold medals in Rio -- and now he's back to his old self.

“Now that the pressure is gone I’m much more relaxed and happy to go to training because I know it’s not going to be so intense anymore."

Bolt is gearing up for the 2017 World Championships in London ... and says he'll finally hang up his spikes after that.

But it might not be the end of Bolt's athletic career -- he says he plans to train with the German soccer team, Borussia Dortmund, at the end of the 2017-18 season.

"It’s something I always wanted to try to see if I was any good at ... I will do a little training to see whether I am worthy."

Liar, liar, Speedos on fire ...

Ryan Lochte says he just doesn't believe Michael Phelps is done with competitive swimming -- despite the fact he filed official retirement paperwork earlier this week.

Venus Williams has set a target for the end of her tennis career -- hoping to hang 'em up for good after one last shot at Olympic glory ... (apparently 4 gold medals isn't enough!).

The 36-year-old tennis superstar appeared on 'Home & Family' on the Hallmark Channel (airs Tuesday morning) ... and was asked if she's thought about retirement.

"I'm kinda targeting the next Olympics (Tokyo 2020) and that's in what 3-and-half years ... and I'm not counting!"

Williams says she's played a long time -- she turned pro in 1994 -- and still loves competing but says it's time for her to "get a life outside the court."

Olympic judo superstar Kayla Harrison says Ronda Rousey has given her "a lot of help" when it comes to making the transition into MMA -- but the real question ... would she ever take a fight against her old friend?

TMZ Sports spoke with 26-year-old Harrison -- a 2-time Olympic gold medalist in judo -- who says she trained with Rousey every day for 7 years as they fought their way to the top of the sport.

Now, with Harrison signing a contract with the World Series of Fighting -- she says she'll reflect on the advice she got from her old friend as she begins her training.

She destroyed everyone at the Olympics -- in 2012 AND 2016 -- and now 2-time judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison has announced she's making the jump to MMA.

The 26-year-old just signed a deal with World Series of Fighting (WSOF) to not only fight ... but also be a part of the announcing team.

There are already comparisons being made to Ronda Rousey -- not just because Ronda was an Olympic medalist in judo -- but because the two used to train together.

So, how's she been preparing?

"I’ve been boxing and doing jiu-jitsu and all that, and the biggest thing for me, really, is that I miss competing,” Harrison told USA Today (via MMA Junkie).

"I miss fighting on the highest stages of the world, and the World Series of Fighting really gave me a great opportunity."

No word on when she'll make her fighting debut.

Ryan Lochte's lawyers got a double whammy in Brazil -- a judge denied their request to have HIS criminal case dismissed ... then transferred the case to a higher court.

A rep for the Court of Justice tells TMZ ... a Rio judge kicked Ryan's false police report case up to the public Ministry of Justice, which will now begin figuring out how hefty of a fine to drop on Lochte.

A court rep tells us the Ministry will most likely hand down a fine in excess of the $11k fine Lochte's teammate, Jimmy Feigen, paid to set things right with prosecutors. The decision is expected as early as next week.

Former U.S. Olympian Jamie Nieto is kicking rehab's ass ... walking with only a walker just 5 1/2 months after sustaining a life-threatening back injury.

As we previously reported, Nieto -- a world class high jumper -- landed on his head while training ... and suffered severe damage to his back. He was unable to move and required emergency surgery.

TMZ Sports spoke with Nieto's manager, Paul Doyle, who tells us he's "getting better physically "and is able to stand and walk with only a walker.

"He's had tons of friends visiting him and helping out. A friend from Sweden even flew in to see him. It's been amazing."

More jokes from President Obama ... this time, POTUS was busting out the zingers with the Team USA Olympians ... crackin' on everything from his gymnastics skills to "Phelps face."

It all went down at the White House ... where Obama and gold medal gym superstar Simone Biles riffed for a little while before B.O. turned his attention to Michael Phelps and the famous pre-race face that became an Internet meme.

One important note ... Ryan Lochte was NOT at the ceremony -- because he WASN'T ALLOWED per the punishment he received over that whole drunken bathroom situation in Rio.

The protesters who bum-rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing With the Stars" could end up behind bars now that prosecutors are hitting them with 2 charges.

We've learned the L.A. City Attorney's Office is charging Sam Sotoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi with leaving a spectator area and entering upon a stage, as well as interfering with a performance -- both are misdemeanors.

As we first reported, the protesters went to 'DWTS' because they blamed Ryan for a family member getting arrested in Brazil.

No one's going to San Quentin -- the ballroom floor got the worst of the protest -- but if convicted, they could get up to 6 months in county jail, and a $1,000 fine.

Ryan Lochte's becoming the poster boy for second chances, and the latest company to put their money behind his comeback is Debt.com.

Tommie Smith ... one half of the iconic Black Power demonstration from the '68 Olympics ... says he's done watching James Woods movies ... 'cause Woods called Colin Kaepernick a "dirtbag."

Woods has been all over Kaep -- and the NFL -- telling our cameras he's boycotting the league for it's refusal to discipline the 49ers QB over his national anthem protest.

But it's Woods' name-calling of Kaepernick on Twitter -- where he called Kaep a "piece Of S@#t" and a "dirtbag" -- that has Smith steaming mad.

Of course, Smith and fellow sprinter John Carlos are the OG's of the sports protest game ... creating an iconic image at the '68 Olympics in Mexico by raising their fists in the air for Black power.

TMZ Sports spoke with Smith and he told us the personal insults aimed at Colin aren't fair ... and because of them, he can no longer support Woods' movie career.

"James Woods used to be one of my favorite actors ... but if he thinks he is dirt because of what he did then I am crossing him of my list because he is wrong."

Smith went on to say he totally disagrees with Woods' view that Kaerpernick's protest is disrespectful ... and is urging the Academy Award nominee to take a hard look at the issues.

Even Lil Wayne is making fun of Ryan Lochte these days ... using the disgraced swimmer to attack Cash Money in a rap performance on 'Ellen.'

Weezy was performing "No Problems" with Chance the Rapper when he changed the words into a Cash Money diss.

The usual lyrics are ...

"And if that label try to stop me ... There gon' be some crazy Weezy fans waitin' in the lobby."

The new lyrics were ...

The real reason the Ryan Lochte protesters went to 'DWTS' is because one of their family members got arrested in Rio, and for some reason they're trying to blame Lochte for the mess.

We've learned Justin Sotoodeh McNeil -- nephew and cousin of the 2 stage crashers -- was busted 3 days after Lochte claimed he was held up at gunpoint. McNeil was allegedly selling fake tickets to a Team USA Beach Volleyball match ... according to Brazilian reports.

Cops say he had 51 tickets and a fake ID. He was arrested and indicted for embezzlement and document forgery. He's out now, but authorities are holding his passport until he meets a list of requirements ... including paying a $264 fine.

Sources connected to the family tell us they think Lochtegate made Justin, and other Americans, a target for cops. We're told they deny he did anything wrong.

Lochte's team thinks it's laughable the family's blaming him, when Justin was busted for a felony -- not to mention the 2 guys getting arrested this week at 'Dancing.'

The Olympics are over but Usain Bolt is still going for a gold medal in something ... turning the hell up in Bora Bora to a level that only the fastest man in the world can.

Ryan Lochte got what he deserved when the USOC suspended him and banned him from U.S Swimming's National Championships, but there's still an upside ... according to swimming great Rowdy Gaines.

Rowdy -- a 3-time gold medalist who knows Lochte -- came on "TMZ Live" and pulled no punches, telling us Ryan's lie in Rio was a huge mistake that forced the USOC to drop the stiff 10 month suspension.

He also thinks Ryan will have plenty of time to stage a comeback, and Michael Phelps is a perfect example of that -- since he was also banned from the National swim meet after his DUIs.

The USOC dropped the hammer on Ryan Lochte because his full punishment includes a ban from the next swimming National Championships meet ... which could put his swim career in jeopardy.

Lochte is also banned from visting the White House with the rest of Team USA Olympians. TMZ Sports broke the story ... Lochte will be banned from swim meets for 10 months, but the USOC just released the full list of punishments he's facing.

He has to return the money he was awarded for winning a gold medal at the games ... perform 20 hours of community service ... and he will have no access to training centers.

The National Championship ban -- which falls outside his 10 month suspension -- is a real shot, since it also means Lochte can't compete in the World Championships ... which could hamper the 32-year-old's hopes of competing in the 2020 Olympics. On the other hand, Michael Phelps got the same ban, and ended up kicking ass this year.

The other swimmers involved in the Rio incident -- Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen -- got 4 month suspensions ... and will also be banned from the White House visit.