The 32-year-old Olympic swimmer’s full interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer – which was filmed in New York City on Saturday, August 20, and was first teased online over the weekend – aired on the Today show on Monday, August 22.
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The swimmer originally said that he and three Team USA teammates were pulled over in a cab and robbed at gunpoint by men posing as Brazilian police.
On Monday, Speedo, Ralph Lauren, Airweave, and Syneron Candela all terminated their contracts with the swimmer, losing him approximately million in annual sponsorship money that would have likely gone towards paying for his training for Tokyo 2020.
However, they too announced that there would be no future in the company for Lochte.
While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we can not condone the behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for.
Ralph Lauren supplied Team USA with their outfits for both the opening as well as closing ceremonies in Rio. Lochte’s fourth and final endorser, Gentle Hair Removal, also announced it was ending its partnership, according to ESPN.
“We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience”, Speedo said of Lochte.
Syneron-Candela is the parent company for Gentle Hair Removal the company in which Lochte acted as it spokesperson.
The reproduction of the story/photograph in any form will be liable for legal action. The decision to end their relationships come following a saga that led to Lochte and his three fellow swimmers being questioned by authorities in Rio after Lochte had alleged the four had been held up at gunpoint. While there have been conflicting versions over whether the guards pulled their weapons on the swimmers, Lochte conceded that his behavior led to the confrontation, which resulted in the swimmers paying some $50 in USA and Brazilian currency before they were allowed to leave.
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Lochte responded by issuing a statement through his public relations firm, saying: “I respect Speedo’s decision and am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years”. “If I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess”. “They put on great Games. and my immature, intoxicated behaviour tarnished that a little”.
