All of Ryan Lochte’s Olympic silver and bronze medals are up for auction, with the proceeds going to a charity benefiting children.
The 37-year-old swimmer earned 12 medals over four Olympics, including six gold that he plans to keep for now.
« I’m not one to be all sentimental about medals, » Lochte told The Associated Press by phone Sunday from a Mexican vacation. « My medals are just sitting in my closet collecting dust. The memories that I have is what means the most. »
The medals are being sold in three lots by Boston-based RR Auction. The sale ends July 21.
The first lot is Lochte’s first individual Olympic medal, a silver in the 200-meter individual medley from the 2004 Athens Games in which Michael Phelps won gold. It has an estimate of $10,000 or more.
The second lot is a pair of bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing Games, in which Lochte finished third in the 200 IM and 400 IM. The estimate is $12,000 or more.
The third lot features three medals from the 2012 London Games. Lochte finished second in the 200 IM, second in the 4×100 freestyle relay, and third in the 200 backstroke. The estimate is $60,000 or more.
Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, said the medals were consigned by a person who received them from Lochte and wishes to remain anonymous.
« They’re in perfect condition. They have beautiful ribbons, » Livingston said. « Ryan’s are obviously extremely interesting to people who collect medals. »
Lochte confirmed he is not the direct seller.
« I gave them to a third party, » he said. « Everything we earn is going straight to charity. »
Also for sale is a 14-karat white gold Olympic ring and a Breitling watch with black diamonds. Lochte bought both items for himself after the London Games.
His selected charity is Jorge Nation Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money to send children with a terminal illness and their families on a dream trip from South Florida to a destination of their choice. Lochte said he has worked with the foundation for over 10 years. His agent is on his board of directors.
« This year I really wanted to focus on giving back. I’m loving it, » he said. « I’ve been teaming with my dad doing swim clinics and I’m coming out with my own sunscreen. »
During his career, Lochte routinely gave away his medals from national competitions to kids in the crowd.
Lochte hasn’t competed at a major meet since last year’s US Olympic trials. He didn’t make the team for Tokyo. Last month, he raced in an ocean swim in the Cayman Islands and finished 14th.
« One mile in the ocean is a lot different than in the pool, » he said. « I wear I thought I was going to have a heart attack. »
He’s contemplating shedding some of his six golds in the future. He wants to keep his first individual gold from the 200 back in Beijing and another for his dad, Steve.
« Those medals mean a lot to me; I worked my [rear] off for them, » Lochte said, « but helping other people out is more important to me, especially because I have kids of my own. »
Lochte’s 12 medals are tied for second most among swimmers, trailing only Phelps’ Olympic record of 28.