Ralph Lauren issues breakup with Ryan Lochte
By Carly Regehr
The apparel giant cuts ties with the U.S. swimmer after Rio allegations.
Trouble continues to follow Ryan Lochte outside of Rio, as Ralph Lauren ended its relationship with the U.S. swimmer.
Next: Speedo Ends Sponsorship with Lochte
Most of Lochte’s sponsors relied on a closed door policy when commenting on their future contracts with the swimmer, but since Speedo’s relations with Lochte turned sour, a domino effect has commenced.
And Lochte’s cash cow, Ralph Lauren, has joined the secession.
This news breaks a day after Ralph Lauren decided to axe the Lochte-Ness Monster from its online page, which proceeded to thank its pool of other U.S. athletes:
Ryan Lochte's name & image has been taken off the Olympic endorser page on Ralph Lauren's website pic.twitter.com/NKZhTm8peU
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 21, 2016
Though the retailer refused to associate with Lochte online, Ralph Lauren stores continued to show admiration:
but still in stores pic.twitter.com/3AkRXX1WA6
— Wes Mantooth (@RaylanMantooth) August 21, 2016
Dubbed by John Oliver as America’s “idiot sea cow,” Lochte displayed some remorse during his NBC interview, in which he claimed, “I know what I did was wrong” and that “I let my team down.”
After breaking a few days of silence, Lochte faces some additional heat not from just sponsors, but from the U.S. Olympic Committee — the party responsible for the investigation now that Lochte’s back in the appropriate jurisdiction.
More from Olympic Swimming
- Olympian Ryan Murphy finds a way to remain in his favorite element
- Caeleb Dressel dominates with another gold and record in breathless 50m freestyle final
- 2021 Olympics men’s 50m freestyle final: How to watch online
- Caeleb Dressel wins gold, sets another world record in 100m butterfly (Video)
- 2021 Olympics women’s 800m freestyle final: How to watch online
For someone who used to be a poster for men’s swimming, in addition to a TV star on the E! Network (What Would Ryan Lochte Do?), Lochte should apply one lesson that he learned from his swim instructors: tread lightly.
And while other U.S. Olympians (i.e. Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky) can enjoy their large pay days and exposure, Lochte has likely starved himself of any chance to return to the U.S. swim team.