Speedo USA announced Monday it has ended its sponsorship of embattled star Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte following his false claim that he had been robbed at gunpoint in Rio, a story he later admitted was “over exaggerated”.
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Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo’s decision.
Lochte claimed that he and three other swimmers were robbed at gunpoint in the Brazil capital by men with badges.
Syneron-Candela offers a line of skin-treatment products that deal with issues such as wrinkle reduction.
When asked by NBC’s Matt Lauer if his original version of the story could cost him his endorsements, Lochte answered it could.
Airweave CEO Motokuni Takaoka said last week in a statement that Lochte “will remain a United States ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective”. He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called What Would Ryan Lochte Do? and appearing, as himself, on top shows like 30 Rock and 90210. However, Perez Hilton points out that Lochte’s image has been removed from Ralph Lauren’s “Meet Our Athletes” page, so the end could be nigh. “I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together”. They allegedly pulled their taxi over, pointed a gun at them and demanded money.
Lochte left Brazil before police could seize his passport and question him about his allegations.
The International Olympic Committee on Sunday said that it had opened a disciplinary inquiry into Lochte and three other USA swimmers who made up the story, to evaluate whether “there is material for a sanction”. Brazilian police said the swimmers stopped at a gas station on the way back from a party and damaged property and urinated on a wall of the station. If I’d never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
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Lochte is a 12-time Olympic medalist and long one of the most popular US athletes, known for his trademark saying “Jeah!” and such antics as wearing diamond grillz on the medal stand and dying his hair a silvery color before the Rio Games. He won just one medal at the Rio Games, as part of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
