Ryan Lochte has auctioned off half of his 12 Olympic medals, including the two silver and bronze from London 2012 ©RR Auctions

Ryan Lochte has raised more than $150,000 (£141,000/€156,000) for charity after auctioning off half of his 12 Olympic medals.

The “Ryan Lochte Collection” first went up for bid on June 24 through RR Auction, and American plans to donate the proceeds of the sale, which closed yesterday, to charity.

The winning bid for Lochte’s first Olympic swimming medal, the silver he won in the 200 metres individual medley at the 2004 Games in Athens, was $16,806 (£15,748/€17,491).

The top bid for two of Lochte’s bronze medals from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing was $71,538 (£67,046/€74,440).

The medals were earned through third-place finishes in the 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley.

The highest bid for the third lot, which featured three Lochte Olympic medals, was $45,078 (£42,259/€46,907).

The medals in this lot included Lochte’s silver medals from the 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle relay and bronze from the 200m backstroke at the 2012 Olympics in London.

The estimated combined total value of all six medals had been $82,000 (£77.000/€85,000).

Lochte also sold his 14K white gold Olympic ring for $5,454  (£5,112/€5,674) and his Breitling watch for $12,914 (£12,105/€14,346).

He had bought both items himself during London 2012.

Ryan Lochte's Breitling watch he had bought after London 2012 raised more than $12,000 ©RR Auctions
Ryan Lochte's Breitling watch he had bought after London 2012 raised more than $12,000 ©RR Auctions

Proceeds of the sale will benefit the Jorge Nation Foundation, a charity in South Florida that Lochte has worked with for 10 years and raises money to send children with terminal illnesses and their families on a dream destination trip.

“This year I really wanted to focus on giving back,” Lochte told Associated Press.

“I’m loving it.”

The 38-year-old swimmer, who has competed in four Olympics, will be holding on to his six gold medals for the time being.

Lochte’s career total of 12 Olympic medals ranks him second all-time among American athletes. behind Michael Phelps' record of 28.

Lochte did not make the US for the re-arranged Olympics in Tokyo last year.

He admitted he has considered parting ways with his gold medals at some point in the future, though he will keep his first individual gold and another one for his father, Steve.

Ryan Lochte has not ruled out auctioning his six Olympic gold medals at some point, although he plans to keep the first one he won in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Athens 2004 ©Getty Images
Ryan Lochte has not ruled out auctioning his six Olympic gold medals at some point, although he plans to keep the first one he won in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Athens 2004 ©Getty Images

"I'm not one to be all sentimental about medals," Lochte said.

"My medals are just sitting in my closet collecting dust.

“The memories that I have is what means the most."