Ryan Lochte releases statement after being robbed at gunpoint

RIO DE JANEIRO — Twelve-time Olympic medalist swimmer Ryan Lochte released a statement Sunday night, expressing his relief that he and his teammates are safe and unharmed after being robbed at gunpoint.

“I want to thank all of my family, friends and fans for the overwhelming support and concern I have received today,” Lochte said in a statement posted to Instagram and Twitter. “While it is true that my teammates and I were the victims of a robbery early Sunday morning, what is most important is that we are safe and unharmed. I am honored to have represented the U.S. here at the Rio Olympics and to win Gold for my country alongside my teammates. I look forward to getting home so that I can begin to map out the plans for my future with an eye on representing #TeamUSA at the #2020 Tokyo Olympics.”

Lochte and three other U.S. swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen) were involved in the incident, which occurred early Sunday morning when their taxi was stopped by people posing as armed police officers.

Ryan Lochte robbed at gunpoint in Rio

"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC on Sunday afternoon. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground.

"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,' and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."

The robbery occurred just two nights after Lochte’s final competition at these Games. The Olympic swimming competition ended Saturday night.

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