Ryan Lochte makes history in Vogue cover photo with Serena Williams and Hope Solo (PHOTO)

Fourth-Place Medal

14 May 2012 at 12:35 pm

World record holder and London swimming favorite Ryan Lochte is on the cover of the June issue of Vogue magazine, alongside fellow American Olympians Hope Solo and Serena Williams.

Lochte, in black jammers, is locked arm-in-arm with the soccer goalie and tennis star, who are wearing gold, one-piece bathing suits. The cover was shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

It's only the fourth time in the history of the venerable fashion monthly that a man has appeared on the cover -- Richard Gere, George Clooney and LeBron James were the others. (It's amazing that Anna Wintour's favorite athlete -- Roger Federer -- has yet to land a cover.) Each of those men fronted with a female model; Lochte is the first to do so without one.

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Fourth-Place Medal spoke to Lochte last week about his plans for the upcoming Olympics. He hasn't publicly announced his schedule, but it's expected he'll compete in six or seven events in London. He'll be a favorite or co-favorite in each.

Solo will be the goalie for the two-time defending gold medalists. Serena Williams is expected to compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles during the Olympic tennis competition, which will be played on the grass courts of Wimbledon for the first time in history.

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