Rio Olympics 2016: Sponsors abandon Ryan Lochte en masse
American swimmer Ryan Lochte’s world continues to unravel.
All four of his sponsors have now dropped him.
Swimwear maker Speedo USA was become the first sponsor to dump him after his recent dramas.
The official response regarding our sponsorship of Ryan Lochte. pic.twitter.com/0DdP2RyceD
— Speedo USA (@SpeedoUSA) August 22, 2016
Shortly after that announcement on Monday came a statement from designer Ralph Lauren that its endorsement agreement with Lochte would not be renewed.
The swimmer’s name and picture have been taken off the company’s Olympic page on its website.
Then hair removal brand Gentle Hair Removal, owned by Syneron–Candela, followed.
Finally Japanese mattress manufacturer Airweave also dropped Lochte, saying that “after careful consideration” it had decided to end the partnership.
Speedo said it would donate $50,000 ($AUS65,755) of Lochte’s fee to Save the Children, a global charity partner of Speedo USA’s parent company.
The company said it could not “condone behaviour that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for”.
When Speedo, the brand behind too-tiny men's swimsuits, says you're too embarrassing…
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) August 22, 2016
Lochte in an interview to Brazil’s largest broadcaster, Globo TV, on Saturday admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, but insisted he did not lie.
He also told NBC in an emotional interview that he let his team down.
The 12-time Olympic medallist had said he and three team mates were robbed by gunmen early last week, on their way back to the Athletes’ Village from a party. Police denounced this version of events, accusing Lochte and the others of lying.