Ryan Lochte Jokes About Unborn Son’s Rivalry With Boomer Phelps: ‘My Kid Will Beat Him!’

Ryan Lochte is happy it’s 2017. The Olympic swimmer is putting last year behind him and is excited about what’s to come. In a few months, Lochte will welcome his first child with fiancée Kayla Rae Reid, and he has teamed up with PowerBar for the brand’s Clean Start Pledge.

“PowerBar is starting a new campaign about 2017 being a clean start. With me, I thought that was perfect, because with everything that happened in the past, I am pledging my clean start,” Lochte told Yahoo Celebrity. “With everything that happened [at the Rio Olympics], I’m leaving 2016 in the past. So this is a perfect partnership that we have.”

PowerBar’s yearlong Clean Start Pledge is designed to inspire and motivate everyone to move forward and better themselves this year.

“My clean start for 2017 is having a family,” Lochte said. In fact, the Olympic gold medalist recently learned that he will soon be the father of a little boy.

“Basically, I jumped up with a big smile [when I found out],” he shared. “I hugged my fiancée, Kayla, and we almost started crying. We were just so happy. This is what we wanted. We wanted a family of our own, and it’s all coming true.”

Apparently, Lochte is taking the whole pregnancy thing very seriously. When asked if he’s had to make any midnight runs for Kayla’s cravings, he said he’s the one who feels like eating for two.

“The funny thing is, I think I’m pregnant because I’m having the cravings,” he revealed. “It’s so funny because, you know, I’ve read all of the dad books and all of that kind of stuff. It says sometimes when you’re with your partner, the guy tends to get some of the characteristics of being pregnant. I’m like, ‘What?!’ That explains why I’m having cravings in the middle of the night! Kayla is like, ‘What is wrong with you?’ She does want certain salads, though, and no matter what time [it is], I’ll go out and get it for her.”

So what kind of father does Lochte hope to be?

“A good father,” he said. “I want to be there and be very supportive throughout my kid’s life, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to show that kid so much love and teach him the things that I’ve learned throughout my entire life, and just try and be there every step of the way.”

Lochte plans to pass on values that his parents instilled in him.

“Both of my parents said, no matter what you do in life, make sure you go all in, and make sure you do it 110 percent and don’t half-ass it,” he explained. “That’s one thing I’m going to teach him. Life is too short, so have fun and live life to the fullest. Also, to be yourself. Don’t try to change and be someone else for anyone. You are who you are, so be yourself and be happy. “

But that’s not the only thing Ryan hopes to pass down. “And I’m going to teach him how to swim, that’s for sure!” he gushed.

Perhaps Baby Lochte will be getting into the pool with Michael Phelps’s son, Boomer?

“My kid will beat him!” Lochte laughed. “No, you know, I’ve had this thought now that I’m having a baby boy, and [Michael has] Boomer and everything. A lot of people said the Phelps-Lochte rivalry keeps going. You know, my kid is definitely going to know how to swim, but I’m not going to push him into it. I’m going to let him choose, and whatever he chooses, I’m going to make sure he does it 110 percent.”

What’s not happening 110 percent right now is wedding planning.

“I think we are going to wait until after [our son’s birth], because Kayla doesn’t want to be pregnant in a [wedding] dress, and I don’t blame her,” he said about their nuptials. “Our focus right now is the baby and making sure we are bringing him into a healthy world and healthy atmosphere. After that we will definitely sit down and start discussing the wedding plans and everything like that.”

Ryan and Kayla have had some wedding discussions, though.

“It will probably be in California and by the water,” he revealed. “We definitely want the actual ceremony to be close friends and family, and then afterwards we want to have a big celebration … where everyone can relax and cut loose.”

Looks like 2017 is already shaping up to be a good year for Lochte.