Lochte apologizes over Rio robbery story

Mayor Paes has ‘pity and contempt’ for the athletes involved

US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, who had falsely claimed he and three teammates were robbed in Rio, apologized Friday for his behavior, saying he should have been “more careful and candid” in explaining what happened.

“I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors and the hosts of this great event,” Lochte said in a statement.

Lochte’s statement came as criticism of him poured in for causing such a huge and unnecessary distraction at the world’s premier sporting event, a competition watched by billions of people.

Lochte said he waited until now to speak out because he wanted to be sure the three other swimmers with him that night – Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen – would be free to leave Brazil.

The swimmer, who has 12 medals to his name including a gold from Rio in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, had claimed a man posing as a police officer robbed him and his teammates while they were coming back from a party in a taxi.

Police later said a video showed a security official pulling his weapon to restrain a drunk and angry Lochte and his teammates because they tried to leave after vandalizing a gas station bathroom.

The 32-year-old Lochte nevertheless called the incident “traumatic.”

“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. “I am very proud to represent my country in Olympic competition and this was a situation that could and should have been avoided.

“I accept my responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons.”

Rio’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, accepted an apology given by the US Olympic Committee over the incident, but he said he had “pity and contempt” for the athletes involved.

Paes said on Friday that the behavior of the four swimmers did not represent the good spirit that the rest of the American delegation had shown.

He also emphasized that US tourists were always welcome in the city.

Rio de Janeiro’s police chief Fernando Veloso said it was still not decided what charges, if any, would be brought against the swimmers.

Feigen has agreed to pay 35,000 reals ($11,000) to a sporting charity for giving false testimony, civil police said in a statement on Friday.

Conger and Bentz have landed in Miami from Brazil early on Friday, after being moved to business class to avoid media during an overnight flight.