Will Ryan Lochte Win Back America on 'Dancing with the Stars'?

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte got himself into trouble in Rio when he got into a scuffle with security guards and then lied about it. Suddenly, the sports hero was a villain in need of some reputation rehabilitation. That rehabilitation could come this season on Dancing with Stars, where Lochte will compete alongside a new cast of dancing celebrities.

The timing of the anouncement of Lochte's involvement with the show was awkward, coming at virtually the same time as the controversy in Rio. Instead of having a national hero on its hands, DWTS had just cast a disgraced athlete whose misadventures had overshadowed his in-the-pool accomplishments.

The deal to cast Lochte was in the works before the trouble in Brazil, so ABC can't be accused of mining the controversy for publicity or ratings. It's unclear whether Lochte's presence will be much of a positive for DWTS anyway. It's certainly less likely now that viewers will tune in to cheer him on, but his casting might draw more curiosity seekers and hate-watchers.

DWTS premieres September 12 on ABC. This season's cast also includes former Texas governor Rick Perry, former NFLer Calvin Johnson, and actors Marilu Henner (Taxi), Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch), and Jake T. Austin (The Fosters).