Also, three of his major sponsors, swimsuit company Speedo USA, clothing giant Ralph Laurena and skin-care firm Syneron-Candela announced they were dumping the swimmer over the incident.
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“We can not condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for”, Speedo said in a statement.
In addition, Ralph Lauren said in a statement Monday, “Ralph Lauren continues to proudly sponsor the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team and the values that its athletes embody”.
In addition, Speedo USA said $50,000 that would’ve gone to the 12-time Olympic medalist was being donated to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil.
Bentz and Conger were removed from a plane on Rio’s runway as they attempted to fly home, before being later allowed to leave Brazil, while Feigen was reported to have made a charitable donation of more than €9,000 to have a charge of falsely reporting a crime dropped, and to get his passport back. Lochte, 32, had been with the company for over a decade.
Lochte returned to the US on August 17, the same day a judge ordered the four swimmers to remain in the country.
“We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience”, Speedo said of Lochte.
Gentle Hair Removal, a skincare brand for parent company Syneron-Candela, also ditched the swimmer saying in a statement that they hold, “employees to high standards”, and expect the same from business partners.
He later admitted being highly intoxicated during the incident. “For someone like Lochte, he’s really destroyed nearly all of his short-term marketability”.
The financial costs of losing Speedo and Ralph Lauren are likely to be only the first sanctions that await Lochte, whose antics tarnished a powerful showing by the American team and dominating news away from the stadiums and arenas in the final days of the Rio Games.
After apologizing to the people of Brazil, Lochte said on-air that he embarrassed himself, his family, the three teammates that were with him, USA Swimming, the whole Olympic Games and everyone who was watching. “And that’s something that I’m going to have to live with”, Lochte said in the interview.
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Lochte swam in two events in Rio, winning a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay along with Conger.
