It has been an embarrassing week for multiple Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte after apparently lying about being robbed in Rio. The fallout has been swift and has pushed Lochte into hiding when he arrived in the United States on Wednesday. Many critics have damned Lochte and his actions and have essentially tagged him as an entitled rich kid who refuses to grow up.
Regardless, in situations like this you can either run or hide. Lochte has decided to hide for the time being but hopefully he will collect himself and use this opportunity to rebrand himself. He must first swallow his ego. Secondly, he has to understand this is a long-term rebranding especially after what happened because it is quite the blunder!
He must apologize–which he did or kind of did–and then look at how he can soften his image. First off, take responsibility of the whole situation. Don’t blame anyone and thank those around you for the support. Apologize to the people of Brazil and compliment how awesome a country it is! Be humble and respectful of others.
It is all about showing yourself as a sensitive human being that is capable of making a mistake. It is also about being a responsible human being taking ownership of his actions. He must show himself as an average person. Perhaps doing things in the near future that paints him in a positive light. He also has to make the media see a side of him that lets the public see what he can truly become…someone that wants to give back and someone who wants to learn and grow.
This terrible experience for Lochte can be a great opportunity for him to show people who he can become. It will take time and effort, but if he is keen on rebuilding his image with the public and getting another shot at some medals in Tokyo in 2020, he has to start now before he becomes mired in a legacy of one dumb action instead of a great Olympic career.
Image: ibtimes
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