Brazilian police stopped two U.S. Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home on Wednesday, Aug. 17, to question them about how they and two team mates were robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro at the weekend, after a judge raised doubts over their accounts. A new video reportedly shows the four US swimmers getting in a fight with a gas station security guard, who allegedly pulled a gun on them because they damaged a bathroom, on the same night they claim they were ‘robbed.’ Something’s fishy here… That’s when two men approached with guns and badges and told them to get out and get down, Lochte said.
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The Rio Olympics have been dogged by a series of security scares, including the robbery of two visiting government ministers, a mugger being shot dead outside the opening ceremony and stray bullets being fired into the equestrian center.
NBC reported Wednesday night that Lochte backed off some of his earlier claims about the robbery.
Police have found little evidence so far to support their accounts, and say the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews.
Representatives from the USA consulate arrived at the airport shortly after the swimmers were stopped from leaving the country Wednesday night.
On Thursday, a U.S.
Conger and Bentz were released by local authorities early Thursday after being pulled from a flight at the Rio de Janeiro airport amid uncertainty over what truly took place during a late outing the night Olympic swimming wrapped up at the Rio Games. According to a statement by the Rio Justice tribunal, Judge Keyla Blanc De Cnop, of the Special Court of the Fan and Major Events, ordered search warrants for them. Reuters could not verify this.
Lochte’s attorney did not return calls for comment. He had already given testimony to Brazilian police before leaving the country.
“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down, ‘ and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet – he left my cellphone, he left my credentials”.
Steve Lochte said. “It’s just ridiculous”.
Gutman added that the video also reportedly shows one swimmer breaking down a bathroom door at the gas station.
Sandusky said teammate Jimmy Feigen also planned to talk to officials as he navigates a judge’s order that keeps him in Brazil.
“I think he feels it was more of a traumatic mischaracterization”, said Lauer. Both Bentz and Conger were taken off a plane for questioning as they were preparing to leave Rio.
“We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over”, Lochte said.
Brazilian authorities said they have questions about what happened that night and have concerns over inconsistencies in the accounts of the events.
The judge also noted that video footage of the swimmers showed them returning to the Athletes Village joking with one another and in possession of many of their belongings, including cellular phones and Olympic accreditation.
Sergio Riera, an attorney for Conger and Bentz, said the swimmers were frightened and confused as to why they had been taken off their flight and over what they were being ordered to do by different authorities. Such a trip during early morning hours would take 30 to 40 minutes.
Another contradiction that Brazilian authorities hope to straighten out is the number of assailants involved in the robbery, and whether or not any of them pointed a gun directly to Lochte’s head, as first reported.
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The swimmers are not the only athletes in Rio to complain of theft.
