Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte apologized Friday for his behavior surrounding an early-morning incident at a Rio de Janeiro filling station, saying he should have been more “careful and candid” about how he described what happened after a night of partying with his teammates.
“This was a situation that could and should have been avoided,” Lochte said. “I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons.”
The 12-time Olympic medalist reiterated his view that a stranger pointed a gun at him and demanded money to let him leave the filling station. Lochte had called it a gunpoint robbery; Brazilian police said he and three other swimmers vandalized a bathroom while intoxicated and were confronted by armed security guards.
Lochte said in a lengthy post on Instagram that he was apologizing for his role in taking the focus away from other Olympic athletes. Furthermore,after being detained at a local airport while leaving the Rio Games, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz told authorities the robbery story was, in fact, “fabricated.
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 in the trio.
Whatever… Preach it to the choir, we don’t need your fake apologies.