Ryan Lochte on Dating: Girls "Don't Seem to Understand" My Lifestyle

What does Lochte look for in a girlfriend?

What does Ryan Lochte look for in a potential girlfriend? That depends: Are we talking pre- or post-What Would Ryan Lochte Do?

"Before the show, I thought I knew what I wanted in a girl," Lochte told Elle. "I'd go to a bar, and I'd ask the most attractive girl there out on a date."

But shooting his new E! series What Would Ryan Lochte Do? has taught him a bit about what Ryan Lochte really should do when looking for a long-term relationship: "Now, I want to get to know her before I go on a date."

"I want to have that base—that friendship—and then move from there," Lochte explains.

But as we'll see in Lochte's new show, it's not always easy being an athlete and maintaining a relationship. "I'm on the road sometimes, and I'm not always there every day. Girls don't seem to understand this -- that kind of lifestyle -- unless I were to date another Olympic athlete."

Could Lochte be dropping hints? Be sure to catch the series premiere of What Would Ryan Lochte Do? on Sunday, April 21 at 10/9c to find out!