In August 2016, the swimmer falsely claimed that he and the USA team swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Figs were robbed at gunpoint at a gas station in Brazil during the Rio Games. At the time he was admittedly “hammered” as he celebrated her victory; Lochte later admitted that he couldn’t remember all the details of the night. Upon his return to the Olympic Village, Lochte exaggerated the story to his mother, who later told the media that Lochte had been robbed at gunpoint. He repeated the story on NBC’s Today – and soon his lies overwhelmed him.
Lochte had told first Billy Bush On the Today show: “We got stopped in the taxi and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, nothing, just a police badge and they stopped us. I told the other swimmers they were on the floor – they fell on the floor. I refused, I thought we didn’t do anything wrong, so I won’t get on the floor. “
After the truth emerged, Lochte was deposed from his sponsors and placed on a 10-month ban from the United States Swimming and the United States Olympic Committee.
