Lochte Loses Speedo Deal

Company ditches swimmer after Rio mess, Ralph Lauren follows suit
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 22, 2016 10:33 AM CDT
Updated Aug 22, 2016 12:56 PM CDT
Lochte Loses Speedo Deal
Ryan Lochte in the pool in Rio.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

Ryan Lochte's Rio exaggeration is now resulting in more than just negative press: Speedo USA has dumped him, reports ABC News. "We cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for," says the company. "We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience." Ralph Lauren on Monday announced that it will not renew its contract with the swimmer, reports the AP, and his name and photo have been wiped from the company's Olympic endorser page. Lochte also is endorsed by Gentle Hair Removal, Marriott, and mattress company Airweave, note the Charlotte Observer and Washington Post. If everyone bails on him, Lochte could lose up to $10 million in endorsements, reports US Weekly.

It isn't all bad news for the swimmer, however: A USA Today investigation finds that the Brazilian security guards involved in the gas station incident might have overstepped their authority. In fact, the newspaper's reconstruction of events "supports Lochte’s later account in which he said he thought the swimmers were being robbed when they were approached at a gas station by armed men who flashed badges, pointed guns at them and demanded money." It notes that surveillance video finds zero evidence to support the allegation by Rio cops that the swimmers vandalized a bathroom, though Lochte did damage a metal sign at the back of the building while he and his teammates were urinating back there. (More Ryan Lochte stories.)

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