Ryan Lochte to Trademark ‘Jeah’ Catchphrase
8/17/2012
Adam Pretty/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Swimmer Ryan Lochte didn’t just win gold at the London Olympics, he won worldwide fame as well.
And that fame is about to pay off. Lochte applied on Aug. 1 to trademark his now-signature catchphrase, ‘Jeah,’ according to documents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Lochte plans to put ‘Jeah’ on sunglasses, clothing, jewelry, DVDs, key chains, trading cards, calendars, hats, posters, mugs, water bottles, swimsuits, swim goggles and swim caps. Looks like someone is trying to create a brand. Could a trademark on his Team USA grill be next?
Lochte said he came up with ‘Jeah’ after hearing the rapper Young Jeezy, who says ‘Cheah’ in a lot of his songs. Lochte says to him, it means good or happy.
He also scored a guest-starring role on an upcoming episode of the CW’s teen drama 90210.
But with fame come lots of press interviews, and Lochte isn’t a natural there. Along with awkward pauses and occasional stuttering, he tends to say “like” a lot, or gives simple, one-word answers.
Fingers crossed he can act a little better than he interviews.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio