Lochte also changed his original account about the robbers putting a gun to his forehead.
Advertisement
This week, Georgia swimmer and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Gunnar Bentz surged into a worldwide spotlight after being part of a group of swimmers who were initially reported to be robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning.
He said that Lochte “pulled to the ground a framed metal advertisement that was loosely anchored to the brick wall” and claimed “Ryan and the security guards had a heated verbal exchange” but said no guns were pulled. That is when a man believed to be a customer showed up to try and serve as a translator for the US swimmers.
For that, Bentz says, he handed the men a $20 and his teammate, Jimmy Feigen, gave them 100 Reals – about $33, according to USA Today.
“On the way back to the Olympic Village, we pulled into a convenience store to use the restroom”.
After backlash and questions hammering the validity of his story in Rio, Ryan Lochte broke his silence, releasing a statement Friday.
Veloso said police investigations had shown that the swimmers had caused damage in the bathroom, adding that they then handed over a total of $51 in compensation. Bentz said that as Jack Conger and James Feigen walked away from the auto a man held up a badge and pulled a gun on the Americans.
“I yelled to them to come back toward us and they complied”, he said.
“Again, I can not speak to his actions, but Ryan stood up and began to yell at the guards”, Bentz said.
And, according to the summary of his statement, “the story told by Ryan to the USA media was different that that which (Gunnar) said really happened”.
Bentz confirmed the account by local authorities that the swimmers paid the equivalent of about $50 U.S.to resolve the matter before leaving.
“The IOC has named a disciplinary commission and there will be an inquiry into the four swimmers”, the official said.
The case quickly spiraled into an global matter involving consular officials, lawyers and judicial orders. He departed for the United States Friday night after getting his passport back.
Bentz said Friday he never made a false statement to anyone, he said. He characterized his interaction with investigators as being a witness.
Lochte had already left Rio when the judge’s order was issued.
“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”, USOC said in a statement on Thursday.
Days after authorities in Rio denied Lochte was robbed at gunpoint as he claimed, the swimmer issued an apology on Instagram and Twitter. He explained that the swimmers had been detained by a security guard after drunkenly vandalizing a bathroom at a gas station.
Advertisement
Describing the incident as “traumatic”, Lochte said: “Regardless of the behaviour of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself”.
