Recently, the star athlete Ryan Lochte made some allegations that he was robbed at gunpoint. This, however, is turning out not to be the case. The statement from United States Olympic swimmer Gunnar Bentz puts the whole story out in the open. It is correct that the team did have to pay money in order to leave the scene. Yet Lochte did invoke some action on behalf of security guards.
According to Gunnar Bentz’s statement to CNN, Lochte damaged property at the gas station. Security guards came and Lochte then proceeded to argue with them. The swimmers eventually were told to get out of their cab and sit on the curb. Finally, a good samaritan offered to serve as a translator for the group. More arguing then proceeded between Lochte and the guards.
It was then that the idea of giving up money came up. The swimmers took out their wallets and handed over whatever cash they had. The damage that was mentioned was done by Lochte who tore a sign from a wall. The swimmers originally stopped in order to use the restroom. However, they then discovered that the bathroom door was locked. The group then decided to do their business behind the building.
So the guards did draw their weapons. Yet the guns were not actually drawn until some of the team members tried to run away. This was then a larger part as to why the guns were kept out. In Gunnar Bentz’s statement, after the guards were paid the weapons were put away. So the whole ordeal might not necessarily be described as a robbery.
This is due to the fact that Lochte was vandalizing the building. Yet the guards did, in fact, take money from the swimmers. Yet it is not as traumatic an experience as Lochte originally described. In the beginning, Lochte was committed to the idea of him and his fellow swimmers being robbed. In Lochte’s story, the team was ordered out of their cab at gunpoint.
The team members were then threatened to give up their money at gunpoint as well. Fearing for their lives, the team gave up their cash. Gunnar Bentz’s statement sounds more logical and presentable. Bentz also let the public know about his position in the whole thing. The main point Bentz was trying to make was that he, himself, was not a suspect.
Lochte did issue a public apology on Instagram quite recently. He stated that he was very sorry for basically the whole situation. Lochte apologizes to multiple parties including fans, teammates, and his sponsors. Though he did apologize for not acting more respectful in the situation one thing remains: Lochte still maintains the statement that he was in fact robbed
Money was taken yet one has to remember Lochte caused damage to the property. So why exactly did Ryan Lochte feel the need to exaggerate? On eonline.com Ryan Lochte affirmed that he felt unsafe in the situation as a whole. Not to mention it probably would have put the party in a negative light either way. Therefore it makes more sense for Lochte to become the victim rather than the aggravator.
Ryan Lochte simply had to create more of a reason for his behavior. This came from him being robbed so that apparently would have made his actions more acceptable. Though, in the end, Lochte’s story simply did not fit. Lochte did release his public apology and shortly after Bentz’s statement was released. Lochte probably knew all along that his story would eventually be disproved.
Yet now the story seems to be more clarified. People now see the incident for what it was in its entirety. The USA Swimming committee will still have to evaluate the incident for themselves. It is undecided at this time what consequences will occur due to this infringement. Yet Lochte has stated that he would like to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The decision of the USA Swimming committee might effect this goal.
