The 12-time Olympic medal victor told Rio police that he and fellow US swimmers Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were robbed by armed men carrying police badges early Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. One of the swimmers tried to open the door of an outside bathroom. They were escorted to the airport police station, where they, along with Feigen, were “cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place (Thursday) to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities”, according to a statement by USOC. The swimmers, the source said, pushed on the door, which broke it.
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He said the guard was armed with a pistol, but never took it out or pointed it at the swimmers. The official story is that security guards held the men at gunpoint until police arrived. After a discussion, they did pay him an unknown amount of money and then left. The swimmers also could not say what time the events occurred.
Mr Nadkarni said he hoped the incident would not prompt a backlash towards foreigners.
Feigen also spoke to police in Rio on Thursday, a police source said. He, as well as Lochte’s father and agent, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
The story first emerged when Lochte’s mother told USA media her son had phoned her on Sunday to say he had been robbed at gunpoint.
“Everybody saw and the story turned around”.
A UT spokesman said Thursday that UT athletic director Mike Perrin has been in touch with Conger’s family and that “we’re monitoring the situation”. We have to finalize the investigation, and in theory that could be the case.
Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger left on a flight out of the country earlier this evening after testifying for authorities.
Blackmun also said “we apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence”.
Representatives from the USA consulate arrived at the airport shortly after the swimmers were stopped from leaving the country Wednesday night.
Brazilian authorities said they have questions about what happened that night and have concerns over inconsistencies in the accounts of the events.
Right now, as we speak, what the police can affirm, there was no robbery the way it was reported or claimed by the athletes.
A visitor to the gas station helped to translate between the officials and swimmers, and the athletes left before police arrived to investigate.
The office of Judge Keyla Blank gave the order earlier Wednesday to seize the passports of only Lochte and Feigen. He later changed that detail, telling NBC News personality Matt Lauer on Wednesday night the robber had only pointed the gun in his direction. They demanded the swimmers get down on the ground, and when Lochte refused, he said one bandit cocked a gun and pressed it up against his forehead.
Earlier in the day, the Associated Press reported that Ryan Lochte fabricated the story of the incident, citing a Brazilian police official.
“Why would anybody fabricate anything?” Steve Lochte said. “It’s just ridiculous”.
Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were removed from their flight departing for the United States Wednesday.
– Officials in Brazil indicted two U.S. Olympic athletes Thursday.
“With three days remaining in the Olympic Games, our primary focus will remain on supporting the athletes who are still competing and celebrating the achievements of those who have finished”.
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The robbery that was or wasn’t has become the biggest spectacle outside of the Olympic venues in Rio, casting a shadow over American Olympians in Brazil amid an otherwise remarkable run at the Summer Games.
