Olympic gold medallist and media darling Ryan Lochte chooses training over Tinseltown

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – With his camera-ready good looks, quirky catchphrases and funky fashion choices, swimmer Ryan Lochte parlayed the five medals he won at this summer’s Olympic Games into a bourgeoning media career.

But Lochte says he’s back in the pool training for future competitions and only embraced Hollywood to raise his sport’s profile.

He worked as a fashion correspondent for TV’s “Extra” during New York Fashion Week, filmed cameos for “30 Rock” and “90210,” introduced Lil Wayne on stage at last week’s I Heart Radio concert in Las Vegas and was spoofed by Seth MacFarlane on the season opener of “Saturday Night Live.”

Still, if acting calls, he might consider it, saying he “had a blast” working on set. But swimming comes first.

“If it fits into my training,” he said, “I’ll do it.”