Ryan Lochte removed a poster from a nearby wall, which apparently alerted the gas station employees, leading to our being confronted by two armed security men. He also gave an interview to Brazil’s main broadcaster Globo on Saturday to apologize for his actions.
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Lochte issued an apology yesterday for “not being more careful and candid” in his recounting of a weekend incident in which he claims to have been robbed at gunpoint in Rio early Sunday morning. And I over-exaggerated- some parts of the story.
He added that he was sorry, saying: “Brazil doesn’t deserve that”.
“I want to offer a honest apology to the United States Olympic Committee, USA Swimming, the extraordinary women and men of Team USA, and the University of Georgia”, Bentz said in a statement released through the University of Georgia.
Police said that fellow swimmer, Gunnar Bentz, told them Lochte pulled a framed metal advertisement that was hanging on a brick wall and became belligerent after the guards drew their weapons.
However, police said a day later that there were inconsistencies in the men’s accounts.
Though the gunplay isn’t visible in security footage of the incident made public so far, Bentz said he is “confident video angles have not been shown that would further substantiate my account”.
Bentz and Conger were pulled off their US -bound flight by local authorities earlier this week, then allowed to leave the country 24 hours later after being interviewed by police.
In the statement, Conger, who helped the USA win gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, says he “deeply regret the trouble and embarrassment this event has brought to the people of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro”.
He also said Mr Lochte began yelling at guards for an unknown reason. He said he gave the security guards $20, and Feigen gave them 100 Reals, and they were allowed to leave to hail another taxi.
Rio de Janeiro’s mayor Eduardo Paes had told media he felt nothing but “shame and contempt” towards the men for their portrayal of what happened.
“After Jack 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”, Bentz said.
Ryan Lochte “over-exaggerated” his initial story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, and credited his “immature behavior” for what has become an worldwide incident during an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer airing Saturday. Brazil and Rio have staged a great Games, and it was a privilege to be there and to represent the United States of America. “Whether you call it a robbery, whether you call it extortion or us paying just for the damages”, Lochte said Saturday.
In a statement posted on the University of Georgia’s athletics site Friday, Team USA swimmer and UGA alum Gunnar Bentz apologized for his involvement in last Sunday’s alleged armed robbery in Rio that has captured global attention, NBC News reports.
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Feigen won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. He still received a gold medal after the U.S. team’s win.
