British Olympic Athlete Robbed At Gunpoint In Rio On Tuesday

A member of the British Olympic team was held up at gunpoint in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 16th, according to reports.

The victim has not yet been named and remains in shock, according to The Telegraph, with the incident occurring just two days after American swimmers Ryan Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger reported having been also robbed at gunpoint at some point during a taxi cab ride.

In response to the British Olympian’s alleged situation, Team GB officials have given warnings to athletes, directing competitors to not leave the Athletes Village, as it is ‘not worth the risk’. If athletes do indeed leave the village, they should do so without wearing their official Olympic kit and by also avoiding taking taxis.

Team GB communicated to its contingency via email to “avoid leaving the village after dark in anything other than British Olympic Association/Local Organising Committee/UK Athletics transport – taxis cannot be considered safe late at night. If you are planning on going out after dark and have no way of returning other than via taxi, do not go out”.

Additional warnings from the British Olympic Association, as printed by The Telegraph are as follows:

“Do not go out of the village wearing Team GB kit or carry anything of value unless absolutely unavoidable – this makes you too big a target for theft/crime.”

 “Rio is NOT a safe environment, and the level of crime has spiked in the last few days,” it adds.

“Think very carefully about whether it is worth the risk of leaving the village to celebrate after you have finished competing – BOA/UKA staff cannot guarantee your safety when away from the village/British School/British House. Our strong advice is that it is simply not worth the risk given the current climate in Rio.”

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Observant Swimswam Fan
8 years ago

ATTILA THE HUNT, you are obviously a Brazillian or a spokesperson for Brazil! You are obviously in a mission to discredit our U.S. swimmers and for all to somehow believe that Rio police is clean and are telling the truth. I believe Ryan Lochte’s story more than what your police is claiming happened. Rio is very corrupt and the government and police are not to be trusted. Lochte and others were seen on the video on the ground, holding their hands up at the gas station. Why would they be on the ground, holding their hands up? I don’t know how else can someone explain that except for they were being robbed!!! There was a truth to Lochte’s statement that… Read more »

Billy
8 years ago

Brazil is leading the armed robbery competition by a country mile. They have very experienced talented robbers who have been training for years.

Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

RIO – The gas station owner in Barra da Tijuca where American swimmers have been involved in a fight reported that athletes staged acts of vandalism on the property. According to the dealer, Ryan Lochte, James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger came to urinate on the spot, despite calls from employees.

– They stopped on the side of the post, left peeing (sic) the side of every post. Have to butt the image of one, arriando pants. They were appointed to go in the bathroom but peed (sic) on the side wall. Obeyed not the board, were not the bathroom. A lady denied to spend minutes before – says the trader, who did not identify.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/dono-de-posto-diz-que-nadadores-americanos-praticaram-vandalismo-19947756

Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Ryan Lochte and three other US Olympic swimmers lied about being robbed at gunpoint to cover up a brawl they had with a gas station security guard, authorities said Thursday.

Brazilian authorities have video of a brouhaha involving American swimmers Lochte, Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen and a rent-a-cop, ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman reported.

At least one of the swimmers can be seen fighting with the security guard and one of the Americans was shown breaking down a bathroom door during the melee, according to ABC.

http://nypost.com/2016/08/18/lochte-3-us-swimmers-lied-about-robbery-in-rio-report/

Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Notice one tiny difference:
“The victim has not yet been named and remains in shock”
That’s what people usually reacted after being held at gunpoint.

Contrast that to CCTV recording of Lochte and friends who were jovial and horseplay while passing through the security.

Slippery
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

But was the victim drunk like Lochte and company?

swimdoc
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

No one is like Lochte, so his reaction to stress with “whatever” or humor is expected. Who else gives a “flat tire” to Phelps as they’re walking out to the OT final of the 200 IM?

bbbb
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Well people have all kinds of reactions to traumas or dramatic events so you’re projecting a little to purport to know how those guys were feeling at any moment. They could have just been relieved to be back and teasing about the crazy events they’d been through. and given the reaction to the US guys’ story, Team GB might be saying shock to protect the athlete from aggressive questioning. Who knows? We certaintly don’t.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  bbbb
8 years ago

I’d believe Lochte’s robbery story if everything checks out.
So far, none of every aspects of his little robbery story checked out.

theroboticrichardsimmons
8 years ago

this is clearly a massive conspiracy by foreign athletes to undermine and discredit brazil and its authorities.

and quick, someone call NBC and get matt lauer on a plane. this story isn’t being distorted, scrutinized, or blown out of proportion fast enough for my taste.

DSC87
8 years ago

Are they going to seize his/her passport too? That’s simply cray cray.

Joel Lin
8 years ago

It is an outrage the US swimmers are considered liars until proven innocent.

This is a city where murders aren’t / can’t be investigated at times because nobody will speak or cooperate with the police. It’s a city where the police themselves often feel outgunned by gangs and don’t feel safe on the streets they are assigned to track.

Brazil is feeling humiliated for basically being outed for hosting an Olympics in one of the most violent and poverty affected cities in the world. The US Consulate should have Benz, Conger and Feigen swear out affidavits and provide only those to the Brazilian authorities and then say we are taking out boys home & kiss our asses. If… Read more »

SwimUpStream
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

It is also very concerning that Benz and Conger were asked by the police after some questionable moves that cannot be described anything else than pressing/threatening. I am quite sure there would have been other ways to get their testimonies other than ordering them to stay in the country and making them get off a plane. Overkill, that is the word that comes to my mind. Though the narrative seems to work. However, still no-one provided any reasonable motive for the swimmers to lie about the incident (please, just name one, and “covering going to the brothel” does not count). And there are other reports about robberies and thefts from Rio.

theroboticrichardsimmons
Reply to  SwimUpStream
8 years ago

the brothel story is laughable. 4 american swimmers with gold medals around their necks don’t need to pay for sex. from what i understand of the olympic village, they just have to walk out the door of their room and look around for 30 seconds before finding someone that will eagerly shack up with them, and for free no less.

Jim C
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

I am sure Lochte’s father knows about the three young men, and I am sure the people at the Telegram also know, Was the Telegram also callous, irresponsible, and dumb beyond belief for reporting their story while three Americans are being detained? Speaking out may very well be the best approach to take,

Jim C
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

I am sure Lochte’s father knows about the three young men, and I am sure the people at the Telegram also know, Was the Telegram also callous, irresponsible, and dumb beyond belief for reporting their story while three Americans are being detained? Speaking out may very well be the best approach to take,

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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