Lochte auctions off Olympic gold for around 330,000 euros

Lochte: “I never swam for gold medals”

The 41-year-old also shared the gold medal for winning the 4×200 meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Games in Athens. It was the first Olympic gold in the career of the former exceptional athlete. He also auctioned off his relay gold over the same distance from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I never swam for gold medals,” Lochte wrote about the auction in December. “My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were just the icing on the cake of an incredible journey.”

Already other medals auctioned

Lochte also describes how he gave away medals for international competitions to fans and children. “It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them pursue their dreams,” he wrote. “The memories, the hard work and the connection with all of you are what I value most.”

In 2022, Lochte had already made his six Olympic bronze and silver medals available for auction. The proceeds were supposed to go to a good cause.