Ryan Lochte took to his Instagram account Friday morning to issue an apology over his Rio Olympics gun-point robbery story, which Brazilian police say was a complete lie with footage to back up their claim that the U.S. swimmers destroyed a Rio gas station and were warned by armed security to pay for the damages.
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“It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country – with a language barrier – and have a stranger point a gun at you…” writes the swimmer.
Ostrow told USA TODAY Sports that police in Rio should investigate the two security guards who pulled their weapons on the U.S. swimmers and demanded payment for the damage they caused at a gas station.
“We just wanted to get out of there”, Lochte said, adding the swimmers – also Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, all gold medalists in Rio along with Lochte – were frightened.
Lochte and three US swimmers said they were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday, with Lochte saying their cab was pulled over by men impersonating police officers.
CCTV footage later disputed their account, and Brazilian police claimed the athletes made up the story to cover up their vandalism of the petrol station, including public urination and breaking a door, and recommended the team face charges.
Police say at least one of the men was involved in vandalizing the gas station and urinating on its premises outdoors.
In the swimmers’ original version of events, Lochte and three fellow swimmers said their taxi was pulled over and they were robbed at gunpoint early in the morning of August 14.
Lochte claimed on Sunday, Aug. 14, that he and three teammates were robbed in a taxi by two men with guns and badges while heading to the Olympic Village. “It’s a reminder that all of us, when we travel and especially when we represent the USA in the Olympics, are ambassadors for our country and should be on our best behavior”.
Blackmun 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”.
“Without question, I am taking away a valuable life lesson from this situation”, said Mr Bentz.
Hours later, Lochte said he and the others had been robbed at gunpoint by men posing as police.
Feigen had to pay 35,000 reais ($10,800) to a Brazilian charitable cause as a condition for being able to leave the country.
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In a reversal of its original comments, the International Olympic Committee said it now believed a robbery took place.
