Rio Olympics: Ryan Lochte Lied About Robbery, According to Authorities

It looks like we know a little more in the Rio robbery case involving American Olympians Ryan Lochte, Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen. According to Brazilian police officials, there’s really not all that much to know besides the swimmers fabricated the story.  

The probe is still ongoing and the source was quoted off the record, the story contradicts the confusing one given by the swimmers. While there was disagreement among Lochte and his teammates about how many people held them at gunpoint after somebody pulled them out of a taxi and flashed a badge indicating they were police, the source’s story is a totally different one. Instead of a robbery, it was the athletes who caused the disturbance at a gas station in a Rio suburb where many Olympic venues are located. One of the swimmers attempted to use the bathroom but the door was locked. “A few” of the swimmers pushed the door until it broke open, at which point a security guard intervened. The guard was armed with a gun, but it was never drawn. According to the source, the manager arrived and was paid an unspecified amount by the athletes before they left to go home. 

As for the three swimmers still detained in Rio, the source says it was Conger and Bentz who told police that the story was made up. 

None of the swimmers have been charged with any crimes at the moment, and they are still pending release back to the United States. IOC spokesman Mario Andrada did release a statement saying, “No apologies from him [Lochte] or the other athletes are needed” (via Yahoo’s Greg Wyshynski). While it’s unclear what, if any, legal action could be taken against the swimmers, this is a somewhat embarrassing way for Team USA swim team’s otherwise spectacular Summer Olympics to wrap up. 

Update: According to the AP, the unnamed Brazilian source has confirmed that there were two security guards present at the gas station, and they did pull their weapons on the detained swimmers.