(ATR) Four United States gold medalist swimmers were robbed in a Rio de Janeiro taxi early Sunday morning.
The U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement that Lochte along with swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, and Jimmy Feigen were robbed on their way back to the Olympic Village. The athletes were leaving the French hospitality house by cab when they were apprehended by armed men impersonating officers. After handing over their belongings, the swimmers returned home unharmed.
Lochte confirmed the incident with NBC saying the robbers put a gun to his forehead after he originally refused to turn over his belongings.
"They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground," Lochte said. "I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground.
"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."
USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said in a statement the four swimmers "are safe and cooperating with authorities."
The story was initially confirmed by Lochte’s mother, Ilena, in theUSA Today newspaper.
"I think they're all shaken up; there were a few of them," Lochte said. "They just took their wallets, and basically that was it."
During the daily joint IOC and Rio 2016 briefing, IOC Director of Communications Mark Adams passed along a statement from the USOC denying the incident. However, roughly an hour after the briefing, IOC walked away from the information handed to them according to social media reports.
Lochte is not the first high-profile victim of criminal activity at Rio 2016.
Two Australian rowing coaches were robbed at knifepoint the night of August 6 walking back to their hotel. The next day, the minister of education from Portugal was robbed at knifepoint outside of the Lagoa after watching the cycling road race.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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