“That’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it, because I over-exaggerated that story and if I hadn’t done that, we would never be in this mess”, Lochte said in the interview, parts of which are scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET.
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All four swimmers have returned to the United States, but only after Conger, Bentz and Feigen were each kept in Rio de Janeiro for further questioning by investigators.
Conger said the four Olympians pulled into a gas station to use the restroom but ended up relieving themselves outside.
Ryan Lochte has released an official apology for his involvement in the reported gas station bathroom vandalism in Rio.
Lochte said he should have been “more careful and candid” when he claimed to be the victim of a robbery during the Rio Olympics. This admission aligns with the one given by Conger, however the USOC claimed that the taxi was stopped by individuals who posed as armed police officers. “Our focus is on supporting Team USA, and our hope is people will remain focused on cheering on the athletes who still have events to compete in”, said a statement from Airweave Chief Executive Motokuni Takaoka.
GUNNAR BENTZ, one of the swimmers involved in the incident. No guns were drawn during this exchange, but we did see a gun tucked into one of the guard’s waistband.
On Friday, Bentz released a lengthy statement through his school, the University of Georgia, apologizing to the United States Olympic committee and USA Swimming, as well as making it clear that he “was never a suspect in the case from the beginning” and “never made a false statement to anyone at any time”.
Within hours, the team was trying to travel back to the U.S., but Mr Bentz and Mr Conger were escorted off a plane at Rio de Janeiro airport by authorities who required further testimony, while Mr Lochte had already flown home two days previously. Then the second guard drew his weapon and both guards pointed their guns at us and yelled at us to sit on a nearby sidewalk.
After Jack (Conger) and I both tugged at him in an attempt to get him to sit back down, Ryan and the security guards had a heated verbal exchange, but no physical contact was made. “We wanted to get out of there as quick as possible and the only way we knew, is this guy was saying to give him money”.
“Again, I can not speak to his actions, but Ryan stood up and began to yell at the guards”, said Bentz.
He added that the team gave the guards about $50 in total, in USA dollars and Brazilian real. I then suggested to everyone that we needed to leave the area and we returned to the taxi.
He said it was traumatic to have been out late with his friends in a foreign country – with a language barrier – and to have had a stranger point a gun at him and demand money to allow him to leave.
“Without question, I am taking away a valuable life lesson from this situation”, Bentz said.
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“I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself, and for that am sorry to my teammates”, he said. “I am very proud to represent my country in Olympic competition and this was a situation that could and should have been avoided”.
