U.S. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte apologized Friday for “not being more careful and candid” when describing an alleged armed robbery in Rio last week.
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Brazilian police said Thursday that swimmer Ryan Lochte and three USA teammates were not robbed after a night of partying, and that the intoxicated athletes instead vandalized a gas station bathroom and were questioned by armed guards before they paid for the damage and left.
“On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, 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”, a committee statement said.
The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has set up a disciplinary commission for Lochte and his three teammates.
The situation “could and should have been avoided”, he said, adding that he had “learned some valuable lessons”.
That outrage was evident Thursday, as onlookers shouted “liars” and “shameful” at Bentz and Conger as they left a police station where they gave statements. “So I hope we spend our time celebrating the great stories and performances of these Games and look ahead to celebrating future successes”.
Feigen paid 35,000 reais ($11,000) to a Brazilian sporting charity on Friday, a condition of reclaiming his passport from Brazilian police and being able to return home.
Lochte told NBC News’ Matt Lauer on Wednesday that the swimmers had used a restroom at a gas station, but when they returned to the taxi, the driver didn’t move.
Authorities said that after the incident, the swimmers did not call police; officers began investigating after they saw news coverage with Lochte’s mother speaking about the incident.
What’s more, his younger teammates, James Feigen, 26, Jack Conger, 21, and Gunnar Bentz, 20, are also getting publicity for the wrong reasons.
“I can only congratulate these athletes and say thank you, because this is really the spirit of the Olympic Games”.
USA tabloid press dubbed him “The Ugly American” and “The Lochte Mess Monster”, turning on the once beloved champion and saying his behaviour played into the worst stereotypes of Americans overseas.
Meanwhile, Lochte, 32, issued an apology on Friday for his “behavior” at a gas station last weekend.
When asked whether the swimmers’ bonuses were at risk, a USOC spokesman responded by pointing to a paragraph from an USOC statement that said the swimmers’ behavior was unacceptable and any “potential consequences” for them would be reviewed.
The apology comes on the heels of a press conference held Thursday, where Chief of Civil Police of Rio Fernando Veloso told reporters that the police were unable to confirm that there had been a robbery the way it was claimed by the athletes based on surveillance footage obtained from the gas station and further testimonies.
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Feigen did not join Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger when they left Thursday night because he was ordered to donate nearly $11,000 to a local sports charity before charges against him would be dropped. The second guard is then said to have pulled his gun and told the swimmers to sit down on the sidewalk.
