EXCLUSIVE: Are you sure you're single Ryan? Lochte visits Playboy Playmate who came to Rio to cheer him on (hours after claiming he was 'active' and 'available' on Tinder)

He insisted on national television today that he was a single man - despite being linked to a stunning Playboy model.

But Daily Mail Online can reveal that hunky swimmer Ryan Lochte may not have been entirely straight with his legions of female fans.

These exclusive images show the 32-year-old leaving a luxury hotel tonight where he visited Kayla Rae Reid to show her the gold medal he won Sunday in the Men's 4x200m freestyle relay.

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Who could it be? Lochte had covered his hair in the hope of disguising himself as he sneaked out a side entrance to a hotel beside the athletes village

Distinctive: There was no doubt who it was once the baseball cap was gone when he was almost at the athletes' village - Lochte's unique hairstyle was a giveaway

If there was any doubt: As well as his hair, Lochte was wearing a Team USA top

Olympic glory: This was the image Reid posted on her Snapchat account immediately after Lochte left the hotel

Lochte, the second most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, used a side entrance and wore a baseball cap in an apparent attempt to keep a low profile.

But the swimming superstar whipped off the hat as he left, revealing a trademark shock of silvery blue hair. He was also wearing his Team USA tracksuit.

Despite the need for secrecy, 25-year-old Reid gave the game away by posting a photo of an Olympic gold medal on Snapchat.

Lochte was alone and on foot for the brief trip to Reid's plush digs, which are a short distance from the official Rio 2016 Athletes' Village, where he has been sharing a room with Michael Phelps.

The rugged Rochester, NY, native fluffed his lines Thursday night when the pair met in their last ever Olympic showdown.

'Available': This was the moment Ryan Lochte claimed on the Today show that he was active on Tinder, the dating app, and had been checking profiles in the athletes' village

Along for the ride: Kayla has been enjoying the sites of Rio while Lochte competed for Team USA and posed for Daily Mail Online exclusively earlier this week

Playmate for Ryan: Last year's Miss July has been linked to the 12-time medalist since March and the pair have made little secret of their romance on social media

The final of the men's 200 individual medley was billed as the closing chapter of a superstar rivalry that has lit up successive Games since 2004.

But while the soon-to-be-retiring Phelps put on yet another masterclass to claim gold medal number 22, his Team USA teammate could only limp home in fifth.

'He really dashed out of the hotel like he didn't want to be seen,' said an onlooker. 'Of course if he was trying to keep a low profile he might have changed out of his Team USA gear.

'It's so close to the athletes’ village that you have to wonder if he's been focusing fully on the swimming.'

Reid has been at the aquatic stadium several times this week to cheer on Lochte.

She was sat next to his mom Ike for Thursday's final, wearing a Team USA hoodie and novelty sunglasses bearing his name.

Last year's Miss July playmate has been linked to the handsome Olympian since March and the pair have made little secret of their romance on social media.

With the family: Kayla Rae Reid (left) was cheering on Ryan Lochte  on Thursday night - side-by-side with his mom, Ike 

No doubts about her loyalties: Reid posted these messages to Snapchat from the pool on Thursday night

Final act: Lochte had won silver in the event in Athens and London, and came home with the bronze in the 2008 games - but on Thursday night could only come in fifth in his last chance at an individual medal

Disappointment: Lochte pulled off his swimming cap as he looked at the clock, later telling an NBC anchor: 'I gave it my all' 

She wished him a happy birthday a week ago on Instagram, calling him her 'favorite person on the planet' and a 'silver fox' after the swimmer dyed his hair silvery-blue.

He responded days later by sharing a photo on Snapchat of Reid sitting in his lap while visiting a restaurant in Rio with his parents. 

Then in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online she gushed about the chiseled star, describing him as 'kind, humble and, of course, unbelievably good looking'.

She all but confirmed that the pair had met on dating app Tinder.

'He was on Tinder. I might be on Tinder,' the blonde host and model added. 'That's all I'm going to say about it.'

She added:  'His family are awesome. They have been so welcoming to me.

'He is kind, humble and, of course, unbelievably good looking.'

Their romance appeared to have hit a roadblock however this morning when Lochte unexpectedly told Today host Natalie Morales that he was still using his Tinder account, describing it as 'active and verified'.

The Olympic swimmer posted a video on Snapchat of himself and Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid hanging out at the Beats House in Rio over the weekend along with his parents

Social media: Ryan Lochte and Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid together in a picture he posted on his Instagram earlier this year

'My two gems': Ryan Lochte confirmed his romance with Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid back in May, posting this snap to his Instagram of them having dinner with his mom, Ike

He then demonstrated how to use the wildly popular 'hook-up' app, where users swipe left or right to decide whether or not they like a potential date.

Asked directly if he had a girlfriend he replied: 'Uh, no girlfriend.'

Pressed as to who are the beautiful female competitors in the athletes' village, Lochte added: 'The word around the village is the volleyball players - beach volleyball. But you got to deal with all that sand.'

Finally Morales asked whether anyone from the Netherlands field hockey team who attracted significant male attention in London 2012 had caught his eye.

'Have you seen them around now you're available?' asked Morales.

'I haven't now that I'm available,' replied Lochte.

The twelve-time medalist may have swum in the Olympics for the last time because he has no more solo races in Rio and isn't expected to be picked for Saturday's relay.

He has not closed the door entirely on Tokyo 2020 but has battled a string of injuries and cited the toll on his 32-year-old body.

Reid's agent declined to talk about her client's personal life, saying: 'I'm not getting involved. This is her personal life.'