USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus has released a statement, through USA Swimming, on the incidents involving 4 American Olympic swimmers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this week.
In the statement, Wielgus says that “the last five days have been ‘difficult'” for USA Swimming and that they “do not condone the lapse in judgement and conduct that led us to this point.”
Two American Olympic gold medalists, Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen, were indicted on Thursday in Brazil on charges of falsifying a police report. The story, which has dominated international headlines all week, involves an incident at a gas station in Brazil early on Sunday morning where Lochte told police and media that the group (which also included gold medalists Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz) were robbed at gun point by men posing as police officers.
Brazilian police have since determined that there was no such robbery, and instead they have accused the group of damaging the gas station bathroom and being confronted by security guards, with guns, to pay for the damages that they caused.
There have been conflicting reports about what exactly the damage was that was done.
Bentz and Conger were not charged with any crimes, because Brazilian police said they didn’t make any formal police reports, and the gas station owner did not press any charges over the vandalism.
- See also: USOC statement
The full statement from Chuck Wielgus, Executive Director of USA Swimming, is below:
“The last five days have been difficult for our USA Swimming and United States Olympic families. While we are thankful our athletes are safe, we do not condone the lapse in judgement and conduct that led us to this point. It is not representative of what is expected as Olympians, as Americans, as swimmers and as individuals.
“That this is drawing attention away from Team USA’s incredible accomplishments in the water and by other athletes across the Olympic Games is upsetting. The athletes and their remarkable stories should be the focus.
“We’re extremely thankful of the support and efforts from the USOC, Department of State and U.S. Consulate General throughout this process. USA Swimming will undergo a thorough review of the incident and determine any further actions, per our Code of Conduct.”
I know ultimately he’s responsible for taking “the early flight out of Brazil.” But I’m kind of interested to know who advised him him to do so. Was it USA Swimming, the USOC, any other members of the team, his mom, or most realistically, his lawyer? I don’t see that party animal leaving Rio De Janeiro under his own initiative. If he had stuck around, maybe it wouldn’t have to appeared so “swim shadey.”
Yulia is likely NOT even follwing this lots lot….
Do yo think Lochte demonstrates his liar and cheater nature long time ago, when he was capable to develop dolphing kick in breaststroke in 200 IM race to got gold medal?
My question is why did Jimmy Feigen have to put out almost $11,000 yet no one else did?
Maybe Lochte can be the flag bearer for Tokyo in 2020 if can qualify for it?
it’s supposed to say, if he can qualify for it? where is the edit function for this?
Wonderful. A statement about a ‘lapse in conduct and judgement’ from a guy who didn’t seem to care about coaches molesting children until he was pressed on it. He will likely pass judgement on these guys while never even being reprimanded and continuing to collect his $800k salary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpQWVIhXGJw
I don’t know what NCAA will do here, and I’d guess they’ll wait until all facts in the case are resolved. But, I’d guess Eddie Reese and Jack Bauerle will have more than a little to say to their swimmers.
Celebrate the other swimmers and their accomplishments. They earned it.
This bs about them “believing” they were “robbed” because the security guards had their guns out is exactly that, BS!
These guys “left” the total sum of $50 US with the gas station attendants (not the security guards!), after talking with the gas station attendants, through an interpreter, while the security guards observed and made sure they didn’t try to flee. If anyone believes that $50 US was the total sum of money in the wallets and pockets of these four guys, then there’s a real estate agent in southern Florida with some prime swamp land to sell you. A “robber(s)”, or “shake down artist(s)” would certainly have gone after the “full Monty” if they were risking perpetrating illegal behaviors… Read more »
I wished I had more than one upvote for you!!!