Ryan Lochte apologized for his conduct last weekend in Rio de Janeiro that precipitated an global scandal involving an alleged robbery and some imbecilic drunken behavior on the part of the 32-year-old gold medalist and three other USA Olympic swimmers.
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He said that around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio where many Olympic venues are located.
Amid the turmoil engulfing Ryan Lochte and three other United States swimmers over their mugging story, Rio organisers on August 18, 2016 gave them words of sympathy.
Workers at the gas station went to see what the commotion was about, the official said.
Upon further investigation, including review of surveillance video, the police said the swimmers were intoxicated and had left their taxi to use the bathroom at a gas station.
Hours later, the official changed the story and said two security guards pointed guns at the swimmers.
Nearly as soon as the news broke, the validity of Lochte’s claims came under fire and, just yesterday, Bentz and Conger were pulled off a flight that was supposed to take them home and taken in for questioning by police.
“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 and demand money to let you leave”, he said. Feigen modified his police statement on Thursday and agreed to pay $11,000 to a Brazilian charity in the hope of securing the release of his passport and avoiding prosecution. Additionally, Lochte and the others could face fines or suspension from USA Swimming.
The attorney said that Lochte stands behind his claim that he and his three teammates were held at gunpoint and robbed on Sunday (14 August).
In the United States, Lochte came in for some serious scorn, with media and internet comments nearly universally scathing.
“We have good people taking care of it, so hopefully”, Phelps said when asked Lochte would come out of the scandal “unscathed”.
Bentz was never a suspect in the case, according to his statement, but only a witness.
Bentz and Conger were jeered by angry Brazilians shouting “liar” and “fake” before leaving for Rio airport on Thursday.
Lochte has yet to respond, but his laywer, Jeff Ostrow, continues to frame the incident as a robbery at gunpoint, even after Lochte apologized for not being “careful and candid” in his account of what really happened. Conger kept headphones on and wore an orange Team USA hooded sweatshirt. “I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned from valuable lessons”.
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Lochte (32) has said he plans to take an extended break after the Rio Games and relocate to Los Angeles.
