# Olympic Sunglass-Wearing Animals Ryan Lochte Pumps Out Photographs of Pets Adorned with Shades By Marina Rotharmel | Published 2012-07-26 | Updated 2012-09-09 | Special Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ryan-lochte References: [mashable](http://mashable.com/2012/07/23/cute-animals-ryan-lochte-sunglasses/) & [ryanlochte](http://ryanlochte.com/) Right before the Olympics of 2012, Ryan Lochte stepped up his game and encouraged fans to cheer for him by debuting a set of [sunglass-adorned](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/back-to-daily-rhythm) [animal photographs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chinesestyle-pet-jackets). These adorable photos featured a number of animals sporting Lochte's [novelty sunglasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-blacked-out-collection). They come in a variety of styles, but the most notable of course has the American flag on one lens and Lochte's name on the other. The animals included in the series are a cat, dog, sheep, panda, orangutan, alpaca, sloth and bunnies. On Mashable they say, "USOC rule prohibits Lochte from selling the red-white-and-blue sunnies during the Olympics, so that means you've got a few weeks to mull which style suits your fancy." Either way the photos are absolutely adorable. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.1/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Special](https://www.trendhunter.com/special) > [Olympics](https://www.trendhunter.com/olympics) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Novelty Sunglass Trend:** There is a growing trend of using novelty sunglasses in creative ways, such as adorning animals with sunglasses. - **Animal-inspired Fashion Trend:** Animal-inspired fashion is on the rise as people find the combination of cute animals and stylish accessories appealing. - **Fan Engagement Through Creative Promotions:** Athletes and celebrities are finding innovative ways to engage with fans and create buzz through unique and playful promotions. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion and Accessories Industry:** The fashion and accessories industry can explore and capitalize on the rising demand for novelty sunglasses and animal-inspired fashion. - **Photography and Photo-sharing Industry:** The photography and photo-sharing industry can benefit from the trend of capturing and sharing creative photos of animals with unique accessories, like sunglasses. - **Athletics and Sports Promotion Industry:** The athletics and sports promotion industry can learn from the creative promotions by athletes like Ryan Lochte to engage fans and create a stronger connection with their audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Performance-Boosting Sports Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roger-federer-1.md) - [Sports-Themed Pet Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petsmart-team-usa.md) - [Fully Recycled Olympic Wear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycle-based-Olympic-polo.md) - [Focus-Enhancing Eyewear Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/latch-panel.md) - [Sports-Inspired Digital Docuseries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-docuseries.md) - [Aviator-Style Swim Goggles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunny-g.md) - [Olympian-Approved Makeup Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loral-paris-cosmetics.md) - [Polarized Eyewear Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lydia-ko.md) - [Paris Olympics Timepieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paris-2024-collection.md)