The field of 'Dancing With the Stars' contestants got even smaller on Monday.
*Caution: Spoilers ahead*
Monday was Halloween week on Dancing With the Stars, and as fun as the spooky, fantastical performances were, someone still had to get the axe.
Two of the night's lowest-scoring performers, Ryan Lochte and Terra Jole, found themselves in jeopardy at the end of the night and, after an exceedingly drawn-out moment of tension building by host Tom Bergeron, it was Lochte and his pro-partner, Cheryl Burke, who got the boot.
After eight weeks of valiant effort but low scores, the Olympic gold medalist couldn't stay in the game. However, he handled the elimination like a pro.
WATCH: Ryan Lochte Strips Down, Gets Very Excited During Sexy Salsa With Cheryl Burke on 'DWTS'
"I learned a lot about myself [during my time here]," Lochte shared with co-host Erin Andrews after the elimination. "Like, no matter how hard I get knocked down I can keep fighting."
"I'm sad that I'm going home," he added. "Everyone here has touched me in a special place [in my heart]."
Lochte -- who joined DWTS after dealing with an embarrassing fiasco during the Rio Olympics in August when it was revealed that he filed a false report about being robbed at gun point -- has struggled to improve his public image over the last two months, and Bergeron had to ask about how it felt to feel the love from the crowd once again.
"10 or 12 weeks ago, could you have envisioned an audience of over 700 people on their feet standing to say goodbye?" the long-time DWTS host asked.
"Not at all," Lochte replied. "I never pictured this."
Check out the video below for a look at some of Lochte and Burke's best moments from their time on DWTS this season.
