Four American swimmers were held up at gunpoint and robbed in Rio on Saturday night.
Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen were said to be returning from a party and headed back for the athletes’ Olympic Village when a car pulled them over and the incident took place.
12-time medalist, Lochte, told the full story to NBC and described how men seemingly impersonating police officers, pulled their taxi over using a police badge before they drew guns on the four Olympians and eventually made off with their wallets and money.
“They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground,” Lochte told NBC. “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.”
Whilst reports unfolded earlier in the day, the IOC initially denied the claims.
IOC director of comms Mark Adams has just said Lochte gunpoint story is "not true."
— Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) August 14, 2016
Then they denied the denials.
IOC now saying the USOC initial denial about Ryan Lochte is "NOT CORRECT".
— Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) August 14, 2016
Lochte has already won gold at Rio, triumphing in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
All four swimmers are said to be safe and well and co-operating with authorities.
Listen to The GAA Hour podcast with Colm Parkinson. Subscribe here on iTunes.
