Ryan Lochte's Teammates Just Told Police He Made the Whole Thing Up

Matt Miller, Jonathan Evans
Updated

From Esquire

This post has been updated.

Brazilian authorities are accusing Ryan Lochte and three other swimmers of fabricating a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio by men posing as police officers. According to sources in Brazil, video footage shows the swimmers getting in a physical altercation with security early Sunday morning after damaging a gas station bathroom.

"Unfortunately, the swimmers told one lie after another," an anonymous Brazilian police official told the New York Times. "We've been able to determine that there was no armed assault."

Lochte's teammates confirmed on Thursday afternoon that he fabricated the armed assault story.

On Saturday afternoon, Esquire spoke with Ryan Lochte. During that conversation, Lochte claimed the perception of Rio being "too dangerous" for the Olympic games was a product of the media.

"The media made sure everyone was scared to come here. When we got here, that wasn't the case at all. I haven't seen really a mosquito since I've been here. The crime, I haven't seen anything wrong," Lochte said. "Traffic is bad, because they have a safe zone where they're trying to keep people safe. That's hard. But the venue, the village, all accommodations have been really up to par. It's been a great Olympics so far."

A few hours after this conversation, Lochte was reportedly robbed at gunpoint.

Early Sunday morning, conflicting reports began circulating that Lochte and three other swimmers were driving when men posing as police officers pulled out guns and ordered them to get on the ground.

"I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so-I'm not getting down on the ground," Lochte told NBC on Sunday. "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."

The International Olympic Committee initially said the reports were "absolutely not true." While The U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed the swimmers' stories, Rio police said they found no evidence of the incidents taking place and inconsistencies in the swimmers' accounts of the robbery.

Now, citing the contradictions within their statements, a Rio court has ordered Lochte and swimmer James Feigen's passports seized.

"Lochte said to the police they were approached by a mugger who demanded them to give all the money," the statement reads. "Feigen told they were approached by more than one criminal, but only one had a gun."

Security footage also shows the swimmers arriving back at Olympic Village at a time inconsistent with their statement. Additionally, the judge writes that "they arrived with their psychological and physical integrity unperturbed."

Given the inconsistencies, Rio police have ordered Lochte and Feigen's passports seized, preventing them from leaving Brazil. However, Lochte is allegedly already back in the U.S.

"There was no effort to detain anyone, but police did have further questions this a.m. It is a matter for our consulate and U.S. citizen services and we will continue to cooperate with all involved," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky told USA Today.

Meanwhile, Lochte told USA Today that the swimmers didn't immediately report the incident because "we were afraid we'd get in trouble."

Something certainly seems strange.

Why would Lochte and the swimmers have any reason to lie about being robbed while on their way back from a party? Why would Rio and the IOC have any reason to discredit a report of Olympic athletes being unsafe while traveling during the games? Why would Lochte dye his hair an unsightly color then return it to normal immediately after the Olympics?

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