When you're constantly following the footsteps of the world's greatest Olympian, greed for attention can ultimately drag you down a slippery slope. Recently, Ryan Lochte claimed that a night of celebration for him and three of his teammates, turned into a fight for his life. But the evidence certainly does not match the claim.

Ostensibly, Lochte and his teammates were looking to spend a night out on the town when a taxi ride went wrong–almost fatally wrong. Lochte claimed in an interview the next morning that he and his teammates were held at gunpoint on their taxi ride and asked to empty themselves of all valuable possessions. In an attempt to be a macho man, Lochte claimed that his response to a man cocking a gun and pointing it as his head was "whatever."

Here's the video for those who haven't seen Lochte's remarks on "what went down":

In seeing this, Lochte's perfunctory and hazy recollection of what happened the night before makes it seem falsified. His story jumps all over the place, his emotionless remarks make it seem like he wasn't even there and his story isn't in the least compelling due to his dry, passion-void remarks.

Immediately, the IOC and Brazil denounced these remarks and claimed his story to be a fabrication. Days later, it was found out that, indeed, his story did not line up with the actual truth.

Though Lochte was able to fly back safely to the states, two of his other teammates did not fare so well. The Brazilian government sent orders to detain the two swimmers, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, to drag out the actual truth from them. Turns out, Lochte and the other swimmers did indeed fabricate the story to cover their own bad behavior. Quite the cheap shot considering Rio's venerability in the public safety realm.

After what was likely a night full of drinking and partying, the USA swimmers actually were harrowing a security guard at a gas station and trying to break into a bathroom. They caused damages, disarray and acted belligerent; all the while claiming a false pretense. And yes, this was caught on video so there is not even the slightest ambivalence.

So, why would he do this? Surely he knows better?

I think the answer to this is quite clear and simple: he wanted to leave Rio under the spotlight. After another incredible display of the world's greatest swimmer that has ever lived (Michael Phelps, of course), Lochte had to take a shot at getting the media's undivided attention. It sure worked for him–but the outcome was not one that will leave him remembered for the better. Rather, Lochte will go down as the feckless punk who doesn't have the character to own his wrongdoings. Ouch.