American Swimmer Ryan Lochte Robbed at Gunpoint After Party in Rio
North American swimmer Ryan Lochte, 32, was robbed at gunpoint in the early morning on Sunday (the 14th) in Rio de Janeiro, after the swimming finals in the Olympic Games.
Information about the robbery was confirmed to Folha by Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira.
A winner of 12 Olympic medals, Lochte had gone to a party at the Club France, a French themed nightclub in the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas region accompanied by Pereira and his companion, Gabriela, in addition to other swimmers.
They were there to celebrate the birthday of a mutual friend.
Lochte, Pereira and Gabriela left the Club France in the early morning and went in separate directions. The Brazilian and his companion took a taxi to the hotel where he was staying and the Olympic medalist took another towards the Olympic Village located in Barra da Tijuca.
Along the way, Lochte's taxi was stopped and robbed. The US Olympic Committee confirmed that in addition to Lochte, three other swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger e Jimmy Feigen) were also in the car.
They reported that "the taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers" after leaving the French themed club in the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas region.
According to Pereira, the North American is fine and is now at the Olympic Village. They spoke this morning in a phone call made by the Brazilian.
Ileana Lochte, the swimmer's mother, spoke about the incident to the American channel Fox Sports and said that her son contacted her right after it happened. According to the channel, both she and the athlete's girlfriend decided to get together as soon as they heard about the situation.
Patrick Sandusky, spokesperson for the American Committee, confirmed that the thieves "took the athletes' money and other personal effects" but that all four "were safe and cooperating with the authorities".
Translated by LLOYD HARDER