Ryan Lochte, the American Olympic swimmer best known for lying about being held up at gunpoint in Rio, is heading into acting.
The 12-time Olympic medallist will make his Hollywood debut in Sharon Stone comedy-drama, A Little Something for Your Birthday, next year.
![Ryan Lochte, the world's second-highest decorated male swimmer, lied about being robbed in Rio.](/web/20170103211453im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/j/e/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs5j9c.png/1476840537805.jpg)
Sharon Stone will play an aspiring fashion designer trying to navigate love and her overbearing mother. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is currently in production.
After being suspended from swimming for 10 months, it's understandable that Lochte has been looking for other pursuits.
Lochte left the Rio Olympics in disgrace in August after he and his teammates falsely claimed they had been dragged out of a taxi and robbed at gunpoint by a group of men.
It later emerged that Lochte and other athletes had vandalised a gas-station bathroom during a drunken night out and had to be detained by security guards.
Lochte was charged by Rio police for falsely reporting a crime and was forced to pay a fine and apologise.
The 32-year-old swimmer has tried to rehabilitate his image by signing on the US version of Dancing with the Stars, but that too was marred by controversy.
![Actress Sharon Stone attends the 2016 Carousel Of Hope Ball on October 8, 2016.](/web/20170103211453im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/0/e/v/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs5j9c.png/1476840537805.jpg)
His first performance in September was interrupted by a group of protesters who rushed the stage chanting anti-Lochte slogans and calling him a liar.
The Olympian looked stunned as security dragged the men from the stage. He remains in the competition.
![Ryan Lochte is currently trying to rehabilitate his image on the US version of <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>.](/web/20170103211453im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/j/l/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs5j9c.png/1476840537805.jpg)
According to reports, Lochte won't star as the lead in A Little Something For Your Birthday. That honour goes to Scandal's Tony Goldwyn.
It's probably for the best since Lochte, oft-lampooned for being laconic and obtuse, was less than convincing when he starred as a helpless, robbed Olympian.