Stand by your man! Ryan Lochte's girlfriend Kayla Rae Reid voices her support for swimmer - unlike his sponsors - as they touch down in LA and the Olympian reveals he may consider trip to rehab 

Ryan Lochte landed in Los Angeles on Monday morning, accompanied by his new girlfriend Kayla Rae Reid.

The 32-year-old swimmer was all smiles as he gladly posed for photographs with fans and signed autographs while waiting for his baggage.

Reid meanwhile avoided the cameras, but did voice her support for Lochte as they loaded their car and headed off from the airport.

It was a difficult day for Lochte, who was dropped by all four of his major sponsors in the wake of his Rio scandal. 

He also revealed while speaking to a TMZ cameraman that he was considering a possible trip to rehab. 

The swimmer was asked if he was considering getting help for his drinking with AA or rehab, to which he replied: 'You know, um, I don't know. I can't answer that question right now.'

He then added: 'Right now I need to just see my family and talk to them.'

Later in the interview Lochte seemed to imply he had already been suspended by the US Olympic Committee over what happened in Rio.

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Ryan Lochte (left) landed in Los Angeles on Monday morning, accompanied by his new girlfriend Kayla Rae Reid (right) 

He appeared to be in good spirits in Los Angeles despite the scandal that has plagued his Olympic success

The Team USA swimmer was dropped by all four of his major sponsors in the wake of his Rio scandal

Lochte also spoke with Matt Lauer in an interview that ran on Today Monday morning to give his third version of the events that happened at a Rio gas station last Sunday were he said he had been robbed at gunpoint.

The swimmer said that he was peeing in the bushes at the gas station when he decided to rip down a metal sign hanging on the side of the building.

When asked why he did this, Lochte replied: 'Yeah. I have no idea ... I was very intoxicated. I mean, it was immature, it was childish.' 

Lochte said that after her pulled off that sign 'it made a big noise,' and he and his three fellow swimmers went to get back in their cab and drive off, at which point they were stopped by a guard.

The men were then taken out of the cab by the guard, who ordered the driver to stop and pulled out his weapon, something Lochte took issue with despite his actions.

'I was upset that we got pulled out of the taxi for something. I mean, there's no reason for a gun to be pulled out for us,' said Lochte, who told Lauer that he is not someone that gets aggressive when he is angry.

Lochte also implied he had already been suspended by the US Olympic Committee over what happened in Rio

His aggression forced a security guard to pull a gun on him and three of his teammates early last Sunday morning

There is even a possibility that Lochte could face a lifetime ban from the sport he loves

'I was upset. There was no reason for us to be sitting down with a gun pointed to us for nothing we did.'

Lochte went on to say: 'I think when I got up and I started using some words, like this is BS, we shouldn't be treated like this ... that's when I got heated. The guy probably drawed his gun from this.'

He also issued an emotional apology to the people of Brazil during  the second part of his sit-down interview with Lauer on Monday.

The 32-year-old Olympian also used the interview to take responsibility for causing the destruction to a local gas station that resulted in a security guard pulling a gun on him and three of his teammates early last Sunday morning - and then lying about it.

'If I never done that, we wouldn't be in this mess,' said Lochte, who was then asked by Lauer what he wanted to say to the citizens of the host nation.

'How sorry I am and my deepest apologies,' replied Lochte. 

Team USA swimmers (clockwise from top left) James Feigen, Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were all out on the night of the now-infamous incident

Lochte, a 12-time Olympic gold medalist, posted Snapchat videos with teammate Jimmy Feigen from inside the club

'They put on a great games. They did everything. The people of Rio and Brazil, the authorities, everyone. They put on a great games, and my immature intoxicated behavior tarnished that.'

Lochte has also revealed that he will cover the $11,000 fine that one of his teammate Jimmy Feigen was forced to hand over to authorities before leavign the country last week.

Lochte also spoke to People about why he was so drunk, saying: 'I don't have a drinking problem. We hadn't been able to drink in like months. We hadn't gone out or partied. But we had just won a gold medal. We were out celebrating. I had one too many.' 

On Today, Lauer asked if the three other swimmers who were with him - Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger, and Gunnar Bentz - were responsible for any of the damage that was caused at the gas station.

'I'm not speaking for them, said Lochte, before then changing his tune and telling Lauer he was responsible for everything.

'And it was childish and immature,' said the swimmer.  

After partying with two mystery women at the club, according to police, the men left Club France at 5.47am

He then got emotional describing the moment he watched as Conger and Bentz were pulled off their plane heading home to the United States last Wednesday night. 

'It hurt. I let my team down,' said Lochte.

'I wanted to be there, like I don't want them to think that I left and left them dry. They were my teammates and I wanted to help out anyway I could and I wanted to make sure they were home safe before I talked.' 

Lochte also apologized to the people of Brazil and his fellow teammates in an interview on the Brazilian broadcaster Globo on Saturday, explaining why he made 'over-exaggerated claims' about an armed robbery and sharing his hope that he will still be able to compete moving forward as he attempts to restore his damaged reputation.

His apology interviews could all be for naught however, with the US Olympic Committee announcing Sunday afternoon that he will be disciplined for his actions in Rio - and could face a lifetime ban from the sport.

Lochte was dropped by all four of his sponsors, including Airweave which makes mattresses

Lochte in Ralph Lauren (left) and in his Speedos ahead of the Rio Olympics (right) also faces a lifetime ban from the sport

Lochte has also revealed that he will cover the $11,000 fine that one of his teammate Jimmy Feigen

'I don't have a drinking problem. We hadn't been able to drink in like months,' said Lochte 

Lochte got emotional describing the moment he watched as Conger and Bentz were pulled off their plane heading home to the United State

In a blistering statement CEO Scott Blackmun went after Lochte, and his fellow teammates Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger, and Gunnar Bentz for their actions early last Sunday morning.

Blackmun also said that 'further action' would be taken against the men, which for Lochte could mean a lifetime ban from competitive swimming.

There is also a report that Lochte was told by USA Swimming he had to apologize for the incident immediately if he did not want to face a lifetime ban from that group.

The 32-year-old is the second most decorated swimmer in the history of the Olympic Games behind only his good friend Michael Phelps with 12 medals - six of which are gold.

'We all understand that they let down our athletes. They let down Americans," said Blackmun in the statement from the USOC. 

'And they really let down our hosts in Rio who did such a wonderful job, and we feel very badly about that. 

Ryan Lochte (right) is seen at a gas station where he and three others were forced to pay security guards compensation for vandalizing a bathroom

All four swimmers were seen sat down on the pavement at 6.15am before paying off the guard with $53

'I think we ended up in the right place in terms of being able to shine a light on what really happened there.'

Larry Probst, the chairman of the USOC, also weighed in, saying: 'It's really disappointing that this took place, completely inappropriate.

'I think the four swimmers are well aware of that now. And unfortunately it has overshadowed some really amazing performances by a lot of great athletes.' 

Lochte said in his interview with Globo on Saturday that he had exaggerated his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio - but insisted he did not lie.

'I'm sorry. Brazil doesn't deserve that,' said Lochte.

Authorities have confirmed however that Lochte did indeed lie about being robbed at gunpoint early Sunday, and police have recommended he and Feigen be indicted for the false reporting of a crime.

Lochte used both interviews to also talk about why he decided to give an interview to Billy Bush of Today about the robbery last Sunday, knowing his account of events was largely false.

The men make it to the Olympic Village at 6.57am and go through the security checkpoint

'I was still intoxicated. I was still under that influence. And I’m not making – me being intoxicated – an excuse. I’m not doing that at all. I mean, it was my fault,' Lochte told Today.

'And I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t even – just kept it like, "I’m not– I’m not saying anything."'

He then told Globo soon after: 'It was… I was highly intoxicated and it was... I'm human. I made a mistake and one thing I did learn, I learnt a lot from it and I know that this will never happen again.'

Bentz released a statement shortly after being questioned by Brazilian authorities saying that Lochte was the ringleader in the situation, tearing a poster off a wall and arguing with armed security guards at the gas station.  

'I want to offer a sincere apology to the United States Olympic Committee, USA Swimming, the extraordinary women and men of Team USA, and the University of Georgia,' he said.

Authorities have confirmed that Lochte did lie about being robbed at gunpoint early Sunday

Once outside, Kayla was asked if she 'supports' her man, to which she replies: 'I will always support him no matter what'

'Being a member of the Olympic Swimming Team was an honor and a dream come true.'

'The accomplishments of my teammates were awe-inspiring and I'm so pleased I got to see them up close.'

He went on to express his 'regret' that the situation has 'drawn attention away from the Olympics' and said that Brazil and its citizens hosted the Games 'so incredibly well'.

In his apology, he said that Lochte pulled a sign off the wall and also yelled at security guards at the gas station.

Bentz said: 'Ryan and the security guards had a heated verbal exchange, but no physical contact was made'.