U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte, three others robbed at gunpoint in Brazil
Aug 14, 2016, 10:33 AM | Updated: 2:56 pm
(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte and three other swimmers for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team were robbed at gunpoint in Brazil.
Statement from the U.S. Olympic Committee
Read: https://t.co/SWo2kIlLGW
— Patrick Sandusky (@patricksandusky) August 14, 2016
BREAKING: US Olympic officials say Ryan Lochte, 3 other US swimmers robbed by people posing as armed police.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 14, 2016
Lochte confirmed the robbery to NBC News’ Billy Bush after there were conflicting reports Sunday morning on the robbery.
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 said. “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 cell phone, he left my credentials.”
Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Felgen were the four robbed. A statement from the U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed that all four are safe and cooperating with authorities.
Lochte, 32, earned his first medal of the 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 9 in the 4x 200 meter freestyle relay. Alongside Michael Phelps, Townley Haas and Conor Dwyer, Lochte won gold. That brought his overall medal total to 12, only second to Phelps for the most decorated male Olympic swimmer of all time.
Comments