Both of them are in college: Bentz attends the University of Georgia and Conger the University of Texas.
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U.S. swimmer Gunnar Bentz has been stopped from boarding a flight out of Brazil, it has been reported.
Lochte said in the telephone interview that he initially didn’t want to tell the story of the armed robbery because they were anxious they’d broken swim team rules, Lauer said.
Feigen is still in Brazil, Ostrow said. “But I’m safe, everything’s fine. I was like, ‘Whatever, ‘” he said. They also point to what they say are inconsistencies in the swimmers’ accounts. “I was like whatever”, Lochte recalled in one interview.
Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were taken off the plane, which was due to fly back to the United States on Wednesday night (local time).
Lochte’s father, Steve, said earlier Wednesday that his son called him Tuesday to say he was back in the U.S. He said the 32-year-old athlete was going to pick up his vehicle and purchase a new wallet to replace the one he said was stolen during the alleged robbery.
“I’m just happy he’s safe”, the elder Lochte said.
“It was an unfortunate experience for him and the other three”. I don’t know what they’re trying to do down there.
On Sunday, the swimmers described being robbed after a late-night party, with Lochte saying armed men took his wallet.
Lochte told NBC’s Today show: “They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground – they got down on the ground”.
The office of Judge Keyla Blank ordered the passports of Mr Lochte and Mr Feigen seized as authorities continue their investigations.
“The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available”, said U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky said at the time. Sandusky declined to say whether Lochte and Feigen were still in the country.
Now, Brazilian officials are suggesting that the USA swimmers may not have told the whole truth – and need to answer questions.
Federal police also want to question gold medalist Ryan Lochte, but he had already returned to the United States.
The Brazilian judge said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory accounts of the robbery, according to the court’s statement.
“Why would anybody fabricate anything?”. The others were made to lie on the ground, but Lochte said he refused.
Police sources have told Reuters in recent days they have been unable to find the taxi driver or to corroborate any details provided by the swimmers. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Lochte said the Brazilian police asked few questions during what he thought was a casual interview. Sources at the airport told NBC News Feigen checked in for a flight online but never showed up.
The Daily Mail obtained footage that is supposedly the video mentioned by the judge. If they need to get in touch with me, we have always been fully cooperating. Ryan is the victim here.
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Lochte left for the United States on Monday aboard a commercial flight before the judge’s order was issued, a spokesman for federal police said. They were allegedly robbed at gunpoint Saturday, a claim the International Olympic Committee denied before backtracking.
