Lochte, who won the 12th Olympic medal of his career in Rio, was travelling back to the Athletes’ Village from a party at the French team’s hospitality base with three team-mates – Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen – when their taxi was waved down.
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Four U.S. swimmers, including Ryan Lochte, were robbed at gunpoint Saturday, the U.S. Olympic Committee said after initially denying that Lochte was robbed.
Lochte and three other American swimmers were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday, Aug. 14, by thieves posing as police officers who stopped their taxi and took their money and belongings, the U.S. Olympic Committee said.
Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers. “All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities”.
USA Today and Fox Sports Australia both said the 32-year-old Lochte was robbed and had his wallet stolen early Sunday while socializing the night after Olympic swimming events ended.
Speaking to NBC, Lochte said: said: We got pulled over and these guys came out with a police badge.
Lochte later revealed the NBC the severity of the incident.
Lochte had competed in swimming events last week, and was part of the the United States team’s gold medal-winning 4×200-meter freestyle relay team that also included Michael Phelps.
A representative for Pereira told The Washington Post that Lochte was robbed in a taxi after leaving a club in Brazil.
Lochte’s personal coach also denied the gunpoint robbery occurred.
According to Fox Sports News 500, Lochte was at attending the party which he had been invited to by Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira. Then Thiago, on finding out what happened, called Ryan.
The confirmation to Today’s Bush came after various and conflicting reports about the incident surfaced, with the International Olympic Committee at first issuing denials.
Ileana Lochte said she was on her way to see Ryan late Sunday morning.
We are waiting for more information that we can share.
Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada said organisers were aware of an incident involving Lochte.
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“He took our money, my wallet”.
