US swimmer Ryan Lochte to turn fashion designer post retirement

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London, June 12: American swimmer Ryan Lochte has revealed that he would like to quit the sport one day to pursue his real passion of fashion design.

The 27-year-old swimmer is expected to qualify later this month for several 2012 London Olympic Games events that will see him face off against fellow US champion Michael Phelps, said there is more to him than the sport.

“I want to be different, and fashion gives me the outlet to do that,” the Daily Mail quoted him as telling the New York Times.

He said he “hated talking about swimming.”

“I don’t want to be stuck in the swimming world. “I don’t just eat, swim, sleep, I don’t do that,” he added.

The three time Olympic gold medal champion has already demonstrated his unique style at previous competitions.

Lochte, who owns 130 pairs of shoes, wore diamond grillz over his teeth when he collected his gold medal at FINA Swimming World Championships in Shanghai last year.

Lochte has also designed a pair of emerald rhinestone-encrusted sneakers with Speedo.

Despite his protests, he will not be able to wear his debut design to the London Olympics at the end of July.

Instead, he will be wearing the Ralph Lauren US team uniform; it’s a rule that he believes “stinks.”

He told the publication that he will pair the outfit with his own accessories.Maybe like red, white, blue [grillz],” he said.

He added that Lil Wayne is his idol, often donning the same type of flashy jewellery that the rapper is renowned for.

Apparently, Lochte recently appeared on the front cover of Vogue magazine, to become the fourth man ever to be featured on its cover.

He and a handful of his sporting peers had taken part in a photo shoot with American “It” model Karlie Kloss, which appeared inside the issue’s pages.

Lochte is often dressed by Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren when he attends public events and has been signed by Ford Models modeling agency. (ANI)