Olympic Scandals That Shook the Sports World

Ryan Lochte Lied About Swimmers Being Held at Gunpoint

In 2016, Ryan Lochte claimed he and fellow Team USA swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen were robbed at gunpoint at a gas station in Brazil during the Rio Games. He was admittedly intoxicated at the time, as he’d been celebrating their win.

After returning to the Olympic Village, Lochte told the story to his mom, who later told a reporter the swimmer was robbed at gunpoint. Lochte then spoke to the media himself.

“They pulled us over,” he told Billy Bush for Today. “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.'”

“Then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Go down,'” Lochte continued. “I put my hands up. I was like, ‘Whatever.’ He took our money. He took my wallet.”

The 12-time medalist doubled-down on his story. However, things didn’t add up. According to NBC News, police refuted Lochte’s story and said he, Bentz, Conger and Feigen had been approached by gas station security guards who took out their guns and told them to pay for damages the Olympians allegedly caused.

Eventually, Lochte admitted he “overexaggerated” his story—saying that while a gun was drawn it wasn’t at his head. 

“I made a mistake, and I definitely learned from this,” he told Matt Lauer for NBC News. “I’m just really sorry.”

Lochte received a 10-month swimming competition suspension.