Ryan Lochte, three other swimmer robbed at gunpoint.
Lochte and three other American swimmers were conned at gunpoint early Weekend by thieves posing as police officers who ceased their taxi and had taken their cash and things, the U. S. Olympic Committee said.
In the latest security incident to hit the Rio de Janeiro Games, Lochte informed NBC that a person of the robbers put a marker to his forehead before taking his wallet. Zero one was injured.
Lochte and his teammates were getting back to the athletes small town by taxi after a night out at the French Olympic team's food house in the Rodrigo de Freitas area in the upscale south sector of the city. The outing was several hours after Olympic swimming finished Saturday night at the Rio Games.
"Their cab was stopped by individuals posing as armed authorities officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings, " USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. "All four athletes are safe and cooperating with government bodies. inches
Sandusky told The Associated Press the criminals took cash and credit cards only, and that no Olympic medals were lost.
Traveling with Lochte were Gunnar Bentz, Plug in Conger and Jimmy Feigen. Lochte swam in two events at the Rj Games, winning gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. He is a 12-time Olympic medalist.
Bentz and Conger were also part of this relay, their only event in Rio. Feigen was on the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, another platinum winner for the Circumstance. S. in Rio.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a law enforcement officials badge, no lights, no nothing simply a police marker and in addition they pulled us over, " Lochte told NBC's "Today" show. "They ripped out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground -- they got down on the ground. I refused, I actually was like we did not do anything wrong, so -- I'm not getting down on the land.
"And then the guy chosen up his gun, this individual cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down, ' and i also put my hands up, I was like 'whatever. ' He took our money, he took my wallet -- he still left my cellphone, he still left my credentials. "
UNITED STATES Today and Fox Sports activities Australia first reported the news, citing Lochte's mom, Ileana Lochte. Ileana Lochte and Lochte's agent performed not immediately return mobile phone calls and text communications from your Associated Press.
Term of the robbery carressed off a chain of confusion between Olympic and U. S. officials. A great International Olympic Committee speaker said reports of the robbery were "absolutely not true, " then solved himself, apologized and said he was relying on initial information from the USOC that was incorrect.
Street crime was a major concern of Olympic organizers going into the games. Brazil deployed eighty five, 000 soldiers and court for getting the games, two times as many as The uk used throughout the 2012 London, uk Olympics.
The other day, a Brazil security officer was fatally shot after going for an incorrect turn into a dangerous fa vela, or slum. Two Australian rowing coaches were attacked and robbed by two assailants in Ipanema, and Portugal's education ressortchef (uncharacteristic) occured up at knife point on the busy street.
In addition, stray bullets have twice landed in the equestrian venue, and two windows were shattered on a bus carrying press in an attack that Rio organizers blamed on rocks and others said was gunfire.
