Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte Held Up at Gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro

August 14, 2016 at 14:55

Lochte and fellow swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen had left a hospitality house hosted by France early Sunday morning in a taxi bound for the Olympic Village.

Update: An IOC spokesperson says that the reports from Ben Way are “absolutely not true” according to the Associated Press, according to Lochte and the USOC. We have reached out to both sides for comment, but have been unable to reconcile the conflicting reports, despite multiple outlets having received the news from Lochte’s mother independently.

Update 2: Ben Way, who initially broke the news, is standing by what he was told by Lochte’s mom.

For those asking...
All I can tell you is what Ryan's mother told me. And others, it would seem. I believe her 100% https://t.co/y5RxakZtVF
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

Update 3: Both Ryan Lochte and representatives of Thiago Pereira have confirmed the incident. Read more here.

Original report:

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte was held up at gunpoint in the wee hours of the night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after the conclusion of the swimming events late Friday.

Lochte had been invited to a party by star Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira along with 3 teammates who have not yet been identified.

The 32-year old was safely returned to the USA Swimming camp after the ordeal, and called his mother Ileana immediately after being released. She called the ordeal “terrifying.”

Ben Way of Fox Sports in Australia broke the news within the last hour:

BREAKING: @USASwimming Gold medallist Ryan Lochte has been held up at gunpoint at a party in Brazil.
Details on @FOXSportsNews 500.
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

Lochte invited by Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira, and is now safe at @USASwimming base. @FOXSportsNews told 3 teammates were with him.
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

Lochte called his mother Ileana immediately afterwards. She told @FOXSportsNews it was "terrifying" and has just left her hotel to meet him.
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

LOCHTE UPDATE: @TeamUSA 's Jenn Suhr exclusively told @FOXSportsNews: "it definitely would have been terrifying. I'm just glad they're safe"
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

LOCHTE: @TeamUSA 's Jenn Suhr: "when you're in another country you don't know of, it's not the smartest idea to go places you're unsure of.
— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016

The four-time Olympian is the second most decorated swimmer in history behind Michael Phelps. He is the holder of 6 Olympic gold medals, including one from this year where he won gold as part of the Americans’ 800 free relay. He missed the podium in his other event, the 200 IM.