Lochte is the second-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history with a remarkable 12 medals, only behind fellow American Michael Phelps. Ryan Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, Natalie Coughlin, and Steven Lochte all hold the record. But after the infamous “Lochtegate,” he was given a protracted suspension and lost all of his big sponsors.
Ryan Lochte Scandal: He Was Suspended By The Olympic Committee
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Ryan Lochte has been placed on a ten-month suspension by the USOC and USA Swimming. His deception about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the 2016 Summer Olympics led to the penalty.
On September 8, 2016, the U.S.A. Swimming announced further penalties in addition to the 10-month suspension (until June 30, 2017), making the action official. According to the announcement, Lochte was barred from participating in any domestic or international competitions and would no longer receive a monthly salary from the USOC or USA Swimming.
He wouldn’t also receive any direct assistance or access to the USOC’s training resources. In addition, he would have to return all USOC and US Swimming medal funding for his victory at the 2016 Olympics.
In addition, Lochte would miss Team USA’s 2016 visits to the White House and the annual “Golden Goggles” competition. Lochte would also have to complete 20 hours of community service. Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger, and Gunnar Bentz were also punished in addition to him.
Five days after the allegation, on August 19, of that year, the American athlete tweeted an apology as the disagreement turned into a global media event. After the incident, popularly known as “Lochtegate,” he said he was inebriated or “altered” at the time of the encounter and that he “exaggerated that story.”
Ryan Lochte lied about the robbery case in Rio de Janeiro
When they were returning from a party, the 32-year-old said that he, Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger, and Gunnar Bentz were held up in a taxi and robbed at gunpoint.
Lochte spoke with N.B.C.’s Today on what had happened that evening. According to Lochte, their party was pulled over and some men with police badges arrived, the Associated Press reports.
They merely had the badge; they had no lighting or other accessories. The alleged thieves urged the other sportsmen to kneel after pulling them over and brandishing their weapons. He declined, believing they had done nothing wrong, even though the others agreed. One of the men then brought out his revolver and struck Lochte in the forehead.
He then knelt and raised his hands. Lochte stated, “He [the thief] grabbed our money, he took my wallet—he left my telephone and my credentials. Brazilian Police, however, quickly stated that the story was made up after that interview.
“These athletes were not the victims of any robberies. They were not the victims of what they alleged, Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso declared during a press conference.
Veloso mentioned that a swimmer is seen taking a sign off a wall and dumping it to the ground on the CCTV tape. Additionally, according to a source quoted by the A.P., Bentz, and Conger informed Brazilian authorities that Lochte’s story was untrue.
A police official who wished to remain unnamed said that two guards had leveled firearms at the swimmers throughout the event. Veloso would not confirm the information, but he claimed that the guards’ actions would have been justified because the athletes “were violently conducting themselves.”
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