Lying US star says sorry for Rio story
Ryan Lochte comes clean about ‘robbery’
AMERICAN Olympic gold medal winner Ryan Lochte has gone from hero to victim to villain as he finally admitted that his story on being mugged in Rio was an attempted cover up and apologised.
“I want to apologise for my behaviour last weekend – for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning.
“It is traumatic to be out 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,” Lochte said on Twitter, stressing he should have been more responsible.
Police in Rio were always adamant Lochte and teammates Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger lied about being mugged. They claim the swimmers’ story was an attempt to deflect attention away from a fight with security guards after the swimmers vandalised a petrol station.
After being pulled off a plane as it waited on the tarmac, Conger and Bentz were finally allowed to leave Rio yesterday, amid jeers from an irate mob of Brazilians at the airport. A judge required Feigen to pay $11 000 (R146 576) to the Reaction Institute charity to leave Brazil. Lochte had already returned home.
The US Olympic Committee’s chief, Scott Blackmun, yesterday apologised to Brazil in a clear indication that the tide has turned against the swimmers and support for them is fading.
“The behaviour of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members. We will further review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we return to the US.
“On behalf of the US Olympic Committee, we apologise 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.”
The statement added that an “argument ensued between the athletes and two armed gas station security staff, who displayed their weapons, ordered the athletes from their vehicle and demanded a monetary payment. Once the security officials received money, the athletes were allowed to leave”.
The swimmers initially claimed they had been robbed at gunpoint late at night by bandits posing as police officers in allegations that shamed Brazil. Hours after police took swimmers Conger and Bentz off a USbound flight, officers said the pair admitted the story had been invented to disguise a drunken dispute after they were said to have vandalised a petrol station.
One officer was quoted as saying the only thing true the men had said was that they had been drunk. Lochte, who has 12 Olympic medals and is known for his party lifestyle received coverage around the world with his claims of a gun being cocked to his head as his group were robbed of cash when their taxi was stopped.
As questions began to be asked about the 32-year-old’s allegations, he left for the US.
On August 14 Lochte posted on Twitter and Instagram: “I want to thank all my family, friends and fans for the overwhelming support I have received today. While it is true that my teammates and I were victims of a robbery early on Sunday morning, what is most important is that we are safe and unharmed. I am honoured to have represented the US here at the Rio Olympics and to win gold for my country alongside my teammates.”
Despite his escape from the fallout, Lochte has been warned his endorsements are under threat as the incident overshadows what had been a successful Games for the US.