Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history with 22 medals from three Games, was arrested by police in Baltimore, Maryland, after they saw him speeding and crossing double lane lines.

Lochte, himself an 11-time Olympic medallist, told TMZ after being asked if he was concerned for Phelps: "I'm not concerned...he just makes dumb decisions.

"He has so much money to get a driver. I even have a driver.

"Just stinks for the sport of swimming.

"But he will become smarter from this.

"Luckily he did not hurt himself or someone else."

Phelps' arrest and charge for driving under the influence was his second in a decade.

In 2004, he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in exchange for 18 months' probation after being stopped by police in Maryland.

Ryan Lochte then took to Twitter to explain his criticism of Michael Phelps ©Twitter/@RyanLochte



After speaking to TMZ, Lochte took to Twitter in an apparent attempt to soften his criticism of his team mate.

He wrote: "Michael is like a little brother to me (a little bro who can swim faster than me) so I reacted the way family reacts, saying 'You know better!' My tone was misunderstood, cuz [sic] that guy is #family."

Phelps was reportedly driving back from the Horseshoe Casino in the early hours of Tuesday (September 30) morning when he was arrested, charged and released.