The U.S. Olympic Committee apologized late Thursday for what it called a
“distracting ordeal” involving four of its swimmers in an alleged
robbery that Brazilian police have said they made up.
The saga began when Lochte said that he and Conger, Bentz and Feigen
were held at gunpoint and robbed several hours after the last Olympic
swimming races ended. That claim began to unravel when police said that
investigators could not find evidence to substantiate it.
Then, security video reviewed by police confirmed the
athletes vandalized parts of the gas station, leading to an encounter
with station employees.
The video shows one of the swimmers pulling a sign off of
a wall and dropping it onto the ground. A gas station worker arrives,
and other workers inspect the damage. Veloso said the swimmers broke a
door, a soap dispenser and a mirror.
The swimmers eventually talk with station workers and
their cab leaves. In another sequence, the swimmers appear to briefly
raise their hands while talking to someone and sit down on a curb.
After a few minutes, the swimmers stand up and appear to
exchange something — perhaps cash, as police said — with one of the men.
The footage doesn't show a weapon, but a police official
speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing
said two guards pointed guns at the swimmers. Veloso said the guards
did not use excessive force and would have been justified in drawing
their weapons because the athletes "were conducting themselves in a
violent way."
A station employee called police, and the guards and
employees tried to get the swimmers and the taxi driver to stay until
authorities arrived, some even offering to help interpret between
English and Portuguese, Veloso said. But he said the athletes wanted to
leave, so they “voluntarily” paid 100 Brazilian reals (about US $33) and
$20 in U.S. currency and left.
Police said the swimmers were unable to provide key
details in early interviews, saying they had been intoxicated. The
police official said officers grew suspicious when security video showed
the swimmers returning to the athletes village wearing watches, which
would have likely been taken in a robbery.
Bentz and Conger told police that they felt Lochte had
lied about the situation in media interviews, according to text of the
statements released by Rio police.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out
with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge
and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC's "Today" the morning after
the incident. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers
to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I
was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the
ground.
"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put
it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,' and I put my hands up, I was
like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my
cellphone, he left my credentials."
The debacle prompted both wild speculation and social
media mockery, which quickly turned to scorn after the official account
went public. #LochteGate trended on Twitter, with users sharing video
footage and posting comments about white privilege and rude Americans.
Lochte and the other swimmers could face sanctions from
USA Swimming, including fines or suspension. The group, as well as
Olympic officials, publicly expressed disappointment and said they would
further examine the matter.
The saga began when Lochte said that he and Conger, Bentz and Feigen
were held at gunpoint and robbed several hours after the last Olympic
swimming races ended. That claim began to unravel when police said that
investigators could not find evidence to substantiate it.
Then, security video reviewed by police confirmed the
athletes vandalized parts of the gas station, leading to an encounter
with station employees.
The video shows one of the swimmers pulling a sign off of
a wall and dropping it onto the ground. A gas station worker arrives,
and other workers inspect the damage. Veloso said the swimmers broke a
door, a soap dispenser and a mirror.
The swimmers eventually talk with station workers and
their cab leaves. In another sequence, the swimmers appear to briefly
raise their hands while talking to someone and sit down on a curb.
After a few minutes, the swimmers stand up and appear to
exchange something — perhaps cash, as police said — with one of the men.
The footage doesn't show a weapon, but a police official
speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing
said two guards pointed guns at the swimmers. Veloso said the guards
did not use excessive force and would have been justified in drawing
their weapons because the athletes "were conducting themselves in a
violent way."
A station employee called police, and the guards and
employees tried to get the swimmers and the taxi driver to stay until
authorities arrived, some even offering to help interpret between
English and Portuguese, Veloso said. But he said the athletes wanted to
leave, so they “voluntarily” paid 100 Brazilian reals (about US $33) and
$20 in U.S. currency and left.
Police said the swimmers were unable to provide key
details in early interviews, saying they had been intoxicated. The
police official said officers grew suspicious when security video showed
the swimmers returning to the athletes village wearing watches, which
would have likely been taken in a robbery.
Bentz and Conger told police that they felt Lochte had
lied about the situation in media interviews, according to text of the
statements released by Rio police.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out
with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge
and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC's "Today" the morning after
the incident. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers
to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I
was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the
ground.
"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put
it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,' and I put my hands up, I was
like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my
cellphone, he left my credentials."
The debacle prompted both wild speculation and social
media mockery, which quickly turned to scorn after the official account
went public. #LochteGate trended on Twitter, with users sharing video
footage and posting comments about white privilege and rude Americans.
Lochte and the other swimmers could face sanctions from
USA Swimming, including fines or suspension. The group, as well as
Olympic officials, publicly expressed disappointment and said they would
further examine the matter.
