Louis Vuitton on Monday nnounced that Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang, who recently won a gold medal in the men’s 4x100m medley relay and a silver medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Olympics, has been named a brand friend. Qin had previously collaborated with the brand, appearing on the cover of SuperELLE in April and participating in a campaign shoot before the Olympics. His pre-race “catwalk” entrance at the Paris Olympics gained attention online, while his performance in the competition was widely praised. Luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, are increasingly selecting athletes as ambassadors.