Olympics

Ryan Lochte is now acknowledging that he has a "serious" alcohol problem after a booze-fueled incident at a Southern California hotel and he'll be seeking treatment, TMZ Sports has learned.

We've confirmed ... Lochte was involved in an incident at a hotel in Newport Beach on Thursday morning in which he drunkenly tried to kick in his own hotel room door around 3 AM.

Hotel security responded to the scene and cops were called. No arrests were made and Lochte smoothed things over with the hotel in regards to the damaged door.

But, now we've learned ... Lochte is realizing he's been battling an "alcohol addiction" and needs to address it before the problem gets worse.

"Ryan has been battling alcohol addiction for many years and unfortunately it has become a destructive pattern for him," Lochte's lawyer, Jeff Ostrow tells us.

"He has acknowledged that he needs professional assistance to overcome his problem and will be getting help immediately. "

"Ryan knows that conquering this disease now is a must for him to avoid making future poor decisions, to be the best husband and father he can be, and if he wants to achieve his goal to return to dominance in the pool in his 5th Olympics in Tokyo in 2020."

This incident is not the first time Lochte has gotten into trouble after a night of boozing -- he was arrested in Brazil back 2016 after a drunken incident at a local gas station.

Carl Lewis tells TMZ Sports now that he and Usain Bolt are retired ... it's all about chasing a different kind of gold -- saying Bolt's gotta catch him in dimes, not times now.

"We're both retired, man," Carl told us when we asked who'd win in Bolt-Lewis race these days. "He's gotta beat my paper."

ICYMI ... Carl's been very critical of Bolt over the years, accusing him of using PEDs and saying the Jamaican sprinter didn't do enough to grow the sport of track.

Now, it appears Lewis is saying Bolt's gotta make some better investments in retirement too ... 'cause apparently Carl's way ahead of him there.

Big bummer for everyone ... 'cause 401ks ain't nearly as fun as 100 meters.

He's the fastest man on Earth ... but how would Usain Bolt do in space!??

You're about to find out ...

The Olympic legend boarded a special Airbus Zero G plane, which simulates what it's like to be in zero gravity ... and challenged 2 of his fellow passengers to a foot race.

The challengers? French astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy (in the blue flight suit) and CEO of Novespace and French Interior designer Octave de Gaulle (in the black).

The guys definitely gave Bolt a run for his money in the first leg of the race, but Usain turned up the heat and crushed 'em when it counted.

And, how'd he celebrate? Usain didn't bust out his signature "Bolt" gesture -- instead, he popped some fancy Mumm Grand Cordon Stellar (fun fact: de Gaulle designed the fancy bottle).

The bottle was reportedly designed for use by future space tourists -- apparently, it's easier to chug from this bottle in zero gravity.

So, if you save up ... a lot ... you can (maybe) test it out one day.

Good luck.

Ryan Lochte was sweatin' it out at his wedding over the weekend ... but it was probably more because of the 108 degree weather than nerves.

The 6-time Olympic gold medalist and ex-Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid exchanged "I Dos" in Palm Springs on Sunday in front of 100 of their closest friends.

Lochte sported a tan suit and a bunch of sweat ... while Reid didn't let the heat keep her from looking incredible.

We broke the story -- Lochte and Reid got hitched back in January after announcing their engagement in October 2016.

The couple welcomed their son, Caiden, back in June 2017 ... who served as a ring bearer for the ceremony.

Four-time gold medalist Michael Johnson suffered a "mini stroke" last week, but says he's already made great progress and expects a full recovery.

Johnson shared the news Saturday, saying ... "Last week I rather surprisingly suffered what's known as a Transient Ischemic Attack or mini stroke. The good news is I'm back at home with my family, cleared of any heart issues and have already made great progress on my road to a full recovery."

Michael added that these mini strokes can seemingly affect anyone, "even the once fastest man in the world!" He also says he'll be posting updates on his recovery often and is using his situation to help raise stroke awareness.

Johnson thrilled the world at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he literally ran away with the Gold in the 200m and 400m ... setting records in both. Many considered his 200m run proof that he was the fastest man alive.

Larry Nassar has a new home ... a high-security federal penitentiary in Florida that's home to notorious mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.

Nassar was originally serving his 60-year federal sentence for child porn in Arizona ... but his attorney claims he was attacked in May only a few hours after being released into general population.

Officials transferred Nassar to a temporary facility in Oklahoma ... before sending him to Sumter County, Florida -- about 50 miles from Orlando.

USP Coleman II is a high-security federal prison that currently holds about 1,400 inmates ... and has been home to famous convicts like Bulger.

The facility has been described by some as a special needs prison ... known to be a place where especially vulnerable inmates have a higher degree of safety and protection.

Did you know ... Michael Phelps got a $1,000,000 bonus check for racking up 8 gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing???

Neither did we ... but it's true -- and what's even cooler is the way Phelps spent the money.

"10 years ago after winning 8 golds in Beijing I received a million dollar bonus," Phelps said on Instagram.

"There was one thing and one thing only that I wanted to do with that bonus. I started the [Michael Phelps Foundation]."

Phelps says the foundation was initially created to teach the importance of water safety and how to live healthy and active lifestyles.

But since then, Phelps has dealt with substance abuse and mental health issues -- and says he's drawing from his own experience to help others.

"Since becoming aware of the importance of my own mental health we have worked hard to add a mental health awareness component. I’m incredibly proud of how far my foundation has come, but there’s still more work to be done!!!"

Nastia Liukin didn't seem too upset to hear convicted child molester Larry Nassar was attacked in prison by another inmate ... telling TMZ Sports that was "karma."

The ex-Team USA gymnast -- who's friends with several Nassar victims including McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman -- found justice in Larry's prison assault ... shrugging her shoulders at the news.

FYI ... HBO just picked up the rights to a Nassar documentary that will unveil what female gymnasts had to endure at the hands of the team doctor ... and Liukin tells us she'll watch to support her friends and former teammates.

Convicted child molester Larry Nassar was attacked in prison by another inmate and injured ... this according to his attorney.

Nassar is currently serving 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting more than 150 women and girls while serving as a doctor for Michigan State University and Team USA gymnastics.

According to court docs filed by his public defender, Jacqueline McCann, Nassar was assaulted within hours of being released into the general population back in May at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, AZ.

Nassar apparently suffered injuries in the attack -- but the details surrounding the incident are unclear at this point.

Interestingly, Nassar's attorney is accusing the judge in his criminal case of essentially inciting the violence -- claiming the way she oversaw the proceedings empowered inmates to attack him.

McCann references specific quotes from the hearing in which Judge Rosemarie Aquilina "proclaimed, with apparent relish, that she was signing his 'death warrant.'"

In court docs, McCann says, "Unfortunately, Judge Aquilina's comments and conducting of the sentencing proceeding appeared to encourage this type of behavior."

Now, it seems Nassar could be moved to another prison.

Ryan Lochte has found himself in hot water again ... this time, the Olympian has been busted for violating the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's rules ... and he basically snitched on himself.

Lochte -- who was part of the Team USA swim team's infamous gas station incident at the 2016 Games in Rio -- wasn't popped for using a banned drug ... but for receiving an IV treatment illegally.

But, here's the crazy part -- Lochte reportedly led the USADA right to the investigation by posting a pic receiving the IV treatment alongside his wife on Instagram back in May. He even included the caption "Athletic recovery with some #ivdrip." The post was later deleted.

Mark Henry's a wrestling AND power lifting legend ... but he ain't even the best athlete in his own house anymore -- 'cause his 2 young kids are dominating youth sports.

TMZ Sports talked to Mark about his 12-year-old son, Jacob, and 8-year-old daughter, Joanna ... who both qualified for the Junior Olympics.

FYI -- Mark's a 2-time Olympian who also placed 1st at the Pan-Am Games and Arnold Strongman Classic back in the day -- and just about every other power lifting event that existed.

It's his kids who are killin' it now.

"My son Jacob qualified in the shot put and the discus. He's one of the top 20 throwers in the country. He's working his way up. He's only 12. But he wants to be great. I told him don't follow my path, create your own."

And his daughter ... she's a track star who went to the Junior Olympics 2 years ago, and also qualified this year.

1st place and gold medals are cool ... but Henry says the most important thing is school -- and his kids are takin' care of biz in the classroom.

In fact, there's really only one reason he wants them in sports ... "I want to spend they scholarship money. Their college funds. If they go to school for free, that's more money for me and my wife to go to the Caymans."

It's a joke (we think).

Chloe Kim's rapping skills have no limit ... 'cause the U.S. Olympic hero grabbed the mic with G-Eazy at an ESPYs after-party ... and we gotta admit, she KILLED it!!!

The snowboarding gold medalist hit up the official awards after-party at L.A. Live on Wednesday ... and didn't even hesitate when Young Gerald asked her to spit Cardi B's verse on his hit, "No Limit"

The people in attendance totally lost it ... and rightfully so. Chloe knows ALL the words (even the dirty ones).

A very powerful moment just went down at the 2018 ESPY Awards, as well over 100 sister survivors of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar joined hands on stage to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

On behalf of their fellow "army of survivors," Sarah Klein, Tiffany Thomas Lopez and USA gymnastics star Aly Raisman accepted the award. Each delivered a moving speech about the suffering caused by 30 years of abuse by the disgraced Team USA and Michigan State doctor ... and the courage it took -- by hundreds of women -- to finally bring him down.

As we reported ... Nassar was essentially sentenced to life in prison -- twice -- for sexual assault crimes, along with getting 60 years in his child porn case.

None of it would have been possible without these brave women standing up and speaking out, though ... and now they're leading the fight against abuse.

Chloe Kim tore up PyeongChang's icy half pipes for the 2018 Olympics, and now she's iced out again for the ESPYs ... rocking a new chain that's worth its weight in gold.

The U.S. Olympic gold medalist recently hit up celeb jeweler Ben Baller for some new bling to wear to the sports award show ... where she's got 3 nominations, including Best Female Athlete.

Ben whipped up something special for Chloe -- an 18k gold diamond Cuban choker, with 24 carats in diamonds and weighing 300 grams in gold. Oh, and we're told it's valued at $40,000.

Fun Fact: Chloe Kim and Tom are among the athletes with the most nominations at the ESPYs on Wednesday night.

As far as Best Female Athlete is concerned -- she's up against Sylvia Fowles (WNBA player) and Julie Ertz (soccer).

It's that time of the year -- when the biggest ballers in the world show off their awesome (and not so awesome) fashion tastes at the ESPYs ... and we've got all the pics!!

Adam Rippon -- to no one's surprise -- showed up and slayed in his eye-popping fit ... and NFL brothers Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin took twinning to a whole 'nother level with their matching custom suit lining!!

JaVale McGee was all Gucci'd out ... rockin' a red fanny pack with his custom suit for quite the unique look!!

As for JuJu Smith-Schuster ... we really don't know what to say.

Robert Griffin III says his wife wears the (track) pants in their relationship ... 'cause Grete Šadeiko is not only making a run at the 2020 Olympics -- she blows him away in races!!

We got the adorable couple -- and their cute 1-year-old baby, Gloria -- out in Bev Hills when RGIII made the revelation to TMZ Sports.

"Track is her realm," he says. "She owns the track."

Big-time praise for sure ... considering the NFL star once ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and did do some track events at Baylor.

But Grete's legit on the turf ... she crushed the heptathlon at Florida State -- once running 13.92 in the 100-meter hurdles -- and is making a serious run to compete for Estonia in the 2020 Games.