US Swimmers robbed at gunpoint in Rio

[spuwho]

Per NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/15/sports/olympics/ryan-lochte-and-three-teammates-robbed-at-gunpoint.html?_r=0

Ryan Lochte and Three Teammates Robbed at Gunpoint



RIO DE JANEIRO — Four American swimmers, including the six-time gold medalist Ryan Lochte, were held up at gunpoint early Sunday morning, according to the United States Olympic Committee.

The other United States swimmers robbed, according to a statement from the committee, were Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen.

"Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings," a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee said. "All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities."

Lochte told NBC News that one of the men put a cocked gun to his head.

"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."

Violent crime was a top concern in the lead-up to the Rio Games, as Brazil's economic crisis deepened, pushing up unemployment and poverty rates.

The Rio state government deployed a security force of 85,000 for the Olympics. The streets surrounding the Olympic Park and athletes' village sometimes look like military compounds, with jeeps filled with armed soldiers.

Nonetheless, on the night of the opening ceremony, the chief of security was mugged at knife-point. Two coaches for Australia's rowing team were attacked and robbed in the Ipanema neighborhood. An Olympic security officer was killed in a dangerous neighborhood. Multiple bullets have landed in the equestrian venue, and a bus carrying members of the news media was attacked, its windows shattered.

The American swimmers robbed on Sunday were leaving a party at Club France, the French hospitality house established during the Rio Games in the upscale Lagoa neighborhood, the U.S. Olympics spokesman said.

"I think they're all shaken up," Ileana Lochte, the swimmer's mother, told USA Today. "They just took their wallets and basically that was it."

Bentz and Conger participated in the heats of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, though not the final. Feigen did the same in the 4x100-meter relay.

Lochte won a gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle and finished fifth in the 200-meter individual medley, his only individual event. He had initially denied reports of the robbery through the Olympic Committee.

Conflicting accounts of the incident had swirled on Sunday morning, after a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee said reports of the incident were "absolutely not true," citing information that had been provided by the United States committee.

After Ms. Lochte's statements that her son had indeed been robbed, the International Olympic Committee spokesman said he had simply passed along information from the American Olympic officials. "They said they spoke to Lochte, and he said it wasn't true," the spokesman said. "I guess that may change."

Mr. Lochte's Twitter feed was silent on the matter; his last post was on Saturday, a picture of him with the snowboarder Shaun White. He did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

David Marsh, Mr. Lochte's coach, referred inquiries to the United States swimming federation, which did not immediately reply to request for comment.

The civil police in the state of Rio said that "investigations are underway about the robbery suffered by American Olympic swimmers."

[Kerry]

Media:  American swimmers got robbed.
USOC:  No they didn't.
IOC:  The USOC said it didn't happen
Media:  We already talk to his mother and she confirmed it
USOC:  We meant, yes it happened.
IOC: Ummm, we like peanut butter.

[coredumped]

The American public: when is this crap over with? It's screwing with the regular TV programing.

[PeeJayEss]

The American public: when is this crap over with? It's screwing with the regular TV programing.

I don't think anyone is saying that. Nobody would be watching NBC at all otherwise.

[Snufflee]

Media:  American swimmers got robbed.
USOC:  No they didn't.
IOC:  The USOC said it didn't happen
Media:  We already talk to his mother and she confirmed it
USOC:  We meant, yes it happened.
IOC: Ummm, we like peanut butter.

+1 Sir, the PB comment.. I lol'd

[Adam White]

Media:  American swimmers got robbed.
USOC:  No they didn't.
IOC:  The USOC said it didn't happen
Media:  We already talk to his mother and she confirmed it
USOC:  We meant, yes it happened.
IOC: Ummm, we like peanut butter.

+1 Sir, the PB comment.. I lol'd

I don't get it   

[spuwho]

Lochte got back to the US before the judge acted.

The last 2 got pulled off the plane in Rio yesterday and are cooperating.

Brazilian press is all over them for making it up (cant find cab driver, cant ID the police). Many locals think its bogus because the robbers didnt take any jewery, watches or other valuables.

However, 2 policemen did pull over a jujitsu athlete earlier in the week and hit him up for $800 out of an ATM before they let him go, so its not unheard of for local police to mug people under duress. No jewery taken here.

Lochte this morning said the gun wasnt at his head, but in his "general direction, but it was definitely cocked and ready".

They were also at a gas station taking a leak (since they drank heavily) and when they got in the cab is when the fake/not fake cops show up.

He admitted they were intoxicated when it happened so details were a little rough that morning. As to their "joking behavior" on the security cameras when reentering the olympic village at 630AM, he said the adrenalin was still flowing from the stickup when they got back.

One newspaper in Rio was reporting that the story is covering up some other nefarious (think red light district) activities that would be embarassing "to mummy" back in the states.

Most people who know Lochte say he doesnt have the mental make up to create up such a story.

Either way the Brazilian authorities are keeping the US representatives at arms length while they investigate it.

[Dapperdan]

Wheels are coming off now. Now the other swimmers are claiming Lochte was the one who fabricated the story. Also surveillance video shows the swimmers vandalizing a gas station  and fighting with a  security guard. 

[funwithteeth]

Most people who know Lochte say he doesnt have the mental make up to create up such a story.

Yeah, sure.

[finehoe]

One newspaper in Rio was reporting that the story is covering up some other nefarious (think red light district) activities that would be embarassing "to mummy" back in the states.

I'm guessing transsexual prostitutes are involved.

[mtraininjax]

New report out of NBC that British Olympians were also held up in a different vehicle........ more at 6.

[funwithteeth]

http://summergames.ap.org/article/2-lochte-teammates-robbery-probe-pulled-plane

The official says that swimmers Conger and Bentz, who were pulled off a plane going back to the United States late Wednesday, told police that the robbery story had been fabricated.

"mental make up"

[finehoe]

"Let's give these kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret," Mario Andrada, a spokesman for the Rio organizers said. "Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all-time. They had fun, they made a mistake, it's part of life, life goes on, let's go."

Kids?  Lochte is 32 years old.  And being the 'best <whatever> of all-time' means squat in this context.

[spuwho]

http://summergames.ap.org/article/2-lochte-teammates-robbery-probe-pulled-plane

The official says that swimmers Conger and Bentz, who were pulled off a plane going back to the United States late Wednesday, told police that the robbery story had been fabricated.

"mental make up"

When I read that, I couldnt tell if they meant he had the brain of a chimp or it was that he was too nice a guy to make up stuff like that.

What ever happens, its a lot kerfuffle over national pride, Brazil's, not ours.

Maybe they will dig up John McCain's one night stand again.

[finehoe]

When I read that, I couldnt tell if they meant he had the brain of a chimp or it was that he was too nice a guy to make up stuff like that.

If his "reality" show is any indication. I'd go with "brain of a chimp".