Ryan Lochte says ‘immature behavior’ got him into a mess
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this frame from surveillance video released by Brazil Police, swimmers from the United States Olympic team appear with Ryan Lochte, right, at a gas station during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
NEW YORK >> American swimmer Ryan Lochte said he over-exaggerated what happened at a Rio de Janeiro gas station and acknowledged it was his “immature behavior” that got him and three teammates into a mess that consumed the final days of the Olympics.
Lochte, in a portion of an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer that aired Saturday, continued backtracking from a story that he initially described as an armed robbery. Police have said the swimmers vandalized a bathroom after a night of partying and armed guards confronted them and asked them to pay for the damage.
“It’s how you want to make it look like,” Lochte said. “Whether you call it a robbery or whether you call it extortion or us just paying for the damages, we don’t know. All we know is that there was a gun pointed in our direction and we were demanded to give money.”
But he admitted that he understood that he was being told that the Americans had to pay for the damage or the police would be called.
At that point, Lauer said: “You’re striking a deal. Is that fair?”
“We just wanted to get out of there,” Lochte said, adding the swimmers were frightened.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Lauer told Lochte that his story had morphed from one about “the mean streets or Rio” to a negotiated settlement to cover up dumb behavior.
“That’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it, because I over-exaggerated the story,” Lochte said. “If I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Lochte also said he had lied in telling NBC interviewer Billy Bush the next day that a gun had been cocked and pointed at his forehead. He said he was still under the influence of alcohol when he talked to Bush.
“I definitely had too much to drink that night and I was very intoxicated,” he said.
Lochte, who dyed his hair white for the games and had it turn a light shade of green from the pool, had changed his hair back to its regular shade of brown for the interview, which was conducted in New York. As Brazilian police investigated his robbery claim, and eventually held his teammates for questioning while they sorted out his story, he had tweeted he intended to dye it back.
He said he hoped to continue competitive swimming but acknowledged that it won’t be his decision about whether he’d be able to be part of the American team again. USA Swimming and the International Olympic Committee could issue sanctions.
Lochte said he regretted how the incident had tarnished Rio and the last week of the Olympics. He also gave an interview to Brazil’s main broadcaster Globo on Saturday to apologize for his actions.
“Brazil doesn’t deserve that,” he said to Globo. “I am sorry that my immaturity caused all this ruckus.”
20 responses to “Ryan Lochte says ‘immature behavior’ got him into a mess”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
In man talk it’s called CYA!!!!!!!
Where did the group learn to thrash and vandalize the shop owners property and expect to talks their way out a mess. One only need to look inward as how our society deals with others in the international community. We profess to have all the answers and 3rd world countries are expected to condone our atrocious behaviors. Also our Government’s lack of transparency in dealing with its own citizens manifest this image?? HA ha the world is laughing at US. We are the laughing stock of the world! Back in the mid 60′ and later, South East Asians considered us as “Ugly Americans” and oft remarked “Go Home”. Lochte and his cohorts certainly live up to the infamous characterizations.
Well said.
It certainly fooled a lot of us in the beginning.
Only fools were fooled. This had a stink from the beginning!
not immature behavior, just outright stupidity from an ugly American – who believes that they are higher than foreigner. this is called the white supremacists attitude, similar to trump’s beliefs.
WHAT A JERK…Americans look stupid again in the eyes of the International community. Thanks a lot, I feel so shame to be an American because of idiots like you. I hope you never get a chance to represent America in anything again. You idiot.
Give back their medals good lesson for american young adults …Teach us values
At 32 years old Lochte can’t blame immaturity, but rather must admit to some serious character issues. He should hang out with Justin Bieber…think they’d get along famously!
🙂
… and Johnny Manziel.
Finally coming clean, jeah?
This man-child, despite his “achievements”, has embarrassed and shamed himself, his team-mates, the Olympics and his country. So why is the media hounding us with this tabloid headline for days and days? Is it “if it bleeds it leads?”
Headline from the NY Post said it all “Liar Liar Speedo On Fire”
This is the Typical ‘UGLY AMERICAN’ that countries often talk about. American who are not properly ‘vetted’ who set foot on foreign soil only to cause destruction/mayhem. The US Olympic committee (if one exists) should have given them a briefing to behave in another country.
Lochte and his team mates should be held accountable for their stupid actions.
Ryan Lochte:Rio’s reputation as Robert Allenby:Honolulu’s reputation. Donʻt let one’s stupidity smear and insult the hosts and residents of a place you are only visiting to reinforce negative stereotypes to cover your indiscretions.
It seems his contrition does not totally address his juvenile behavior with the host country, but the knowledge that he would not be able to be part of the American team again! That’s a hard blow to accept from an egotistical giant!
He can kiss goodbye to any possible endorsements. You wonder why people make up this stuff.
Immature behavior?…..more like stupidity and lack of character ….partying and getting drunk while representing the U.S. In a foreign country and lying to save yourself instead of coming clean and accepting responsibility …..how despicable ….I don’t care how many medals he won…
“That’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it, because I over-exaggerated the story,”
Actually, he’s only taking full responsibility because so much of their comings and goings were caught on various cameras. So dumb.