Source: Getty Imageslochte,
Are Ryan Lochte and his teammates pretty little liars at heart?
According to Brazilian officials, four members of Team USA lied about being robbed at gunpoint. Instead, the group was apparently attempting to cover an incident with a security guard that left a gas station bathroom trashed.
Advertisement
Surveillance footage acquired by Brazilian channel Globo TV appears to show Lochte and fellow U.S. team members Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz, and Jimmy Feigen arriving at a gas station in a Rio suburb at 6:00 a.m.
The swimmers are seen trying to access an outside bathroom, with one of them allegedly breaking down the door when they couldn’t get in. At this point, a security guard was called to the scene who reported that the bathroom’s soap dish, door, toilet paper dispenser, and signage were damaged.
After more security arrived and cut off the athletes from fleeing, they offered to pay for the damages. The athletes left before the police arrived.
As questions began to swirl about the athletes’ original story, Lochte fled back to the United States. His teammates – still in Brazil – have been questioned and are currently barred from leaving the country.
It remains to be seen if any charges will be filed, though filing a false police report in Brazil is punishable by up six months in jail. The incident is also proving to be a black eye on the Rio Games, U.S. team, and Lochte in particular.
