The spirit of the Olympics

[Benny B]

I'd guess drugs/brothel. When they showed up to the village exceptionally late, they needed a story to tell that wouldn't implicate themselves (or get them in trouble with their significant others). So, they came up with the robbery, figuring that would be easy to get away with.

Brazil is freaking out over this, likely because of all the bad press already and they don't want a reputation for a tarnished olympics.

This.  The first part is irrelevant.  They tried to save face in the dumbest way they knew how.  And then he told his mother.

[StillAWarrior]

Well it looks like it was fabricated.  Apparently they got into a fight with a security guard at the gas station.

Matt GutmanVerified account
‏@mattgutmanABC
#BREAKING Brazil sources: #RyanLochte + 3 swimmers fabricated robbery story. Video shows swimmer "fighting" w/security at gas station @GMA

Newest story:  Lochte and the other swimmers trashed the bathroom at the gas station; fought with the security guard; and the security guard pulled a gun on them demanding they pay for the damage.

If it's true (and I don't know if it is), it would answer the "why would he lie" question.  It would also answer the, "why weren't they traumatized after getting robbed" question.   Finally, it would answer the "why was an on-air interview the first anyone heard of it" question.  Lochte, being not the brightest bulb on the tree, had a story about a guy pulling a gun on him in Rio and wanted to tell it, but didn't really want to talk about how it actually went down.

[GooooMarquette]

It was all over the news for a day at the start of the games, yes.  And then the games themselves quieted it down.

But this was all over the news for the months leading into the Olympics.  I'm not sure how you can ignore that.

It was never going to be a one-day blip when it involved Lochte.  The American media was going to eat it up and run with it against the previous narrative that had been built up for months and they did.

When I was talking about all over the news for a day, I was talking about the Lochte situation, not the general crime issue.  It only got bigger once the changes and inconsistencies came out.

[WarriorInNYC]

When I was talking about all over the news for a day, I was talking about the Lochte situation, not the general crime issue.  It only got bigger once the changes and inconsistencies came out.

Ohhh, well you were addressing wades post where he was referencing the general discussion in the media leading up to the games about Rio not being safe, so I guess that was confusing.

And when was this specific situation just a "blip" for one day?  Hasn't this been a major story since the second it caught wind?

[Spotcheck Billy]

Are you serious? Nobody gives a sh!t about the Steeplechase, do they even broadcast that?

How about some love for Evan Jager.  Silver medal in the Steeple Chase.  My vote for one of the best performances of the games.

Jager is a 2007 graduate of Jacobs High School in Algonquin IL.  He was the 2006 IHSA XC state champion and 1600 and 3200 state champion.

Went to Wisconsin for one year and then went Pro signing with Nike.

The Steeple has been dominated by the east Africans like no other event.  They often sweep the medals.  Jager has the best "non-African" time and broke the old Olympic record today (so did the gold medalists so Jager now has the second fastest Olympic time in history.)

Jager Silver is the best performance for an American in the Steeple since 1952.

Lastly, the Bronze medal went to is Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya.  He is consider the greatest Steeple Chaser in history, two time gold medalist and 5 time world champion.  Kemboi and is known for his blinding closing speed.  Jager out-ran him in the last 150 meters.  That alone is a feat that almost no one in the world can do.

So congrats to Jager for a truly inspiring performance.

[GooooMarquette]

Ohhh, well you were addressing wades post where he was referencing the general discussion in the media leading up to the games about Rio not being safe, so I guess that was confusing.

And when was this specific situation just a "blip" for one day?  Hasn't this been a major story since the second it caught wind?

It was a big story for a day...then the press resumed its primary focus on the events.  Sure, you could find more stories if you looked, but they weren't in the forefront - the events were front and center, and this was background.  This only came back to the forefront when Rio officials raised questions about the stories.

[WarriorInNYC]

It was a big story for a day...then the press resumed its primary focus on the events.  Sure, you could find more stories if you looked, but they weren't in the forefront - the events were front and center, and this was background.  This only came back to the forefront when Rio officials raised questions about the stories.

I guess I remember seeing it front and center since the story broke on Sunday.  Rio officials started raising questions on Tuesday.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/18/12528300/ryan-lochte-robbed-rio-brazil-swimming-details

And as an update, just got an ESPN alert that said US swimmers told Brazilian police that Lochte fabricated the story.

[naginiF]

Well it looks like it was fabricated.  Apparently they got into a fight with a security guard at the gas station.

Matt GutmanVerified account
‏@mattgutmanABC
#BREAKING Brazil sources: #RyanLochte + 3 swimmers fabricated robbery story. Video shows swimmer "fighting" w/security at gas station @GMA

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!  Matt G. is clearly guilty of character assassination for even suggesting Lochte wasn't on the up and up.  Hopefully he shows more restraint with the Gabby Douglas story.   

[mu03eng]

Well the new advice to college students is now, if the football team or US swimmers show up where you are and it's after midnight....go home, nothing good can happen.

[WarriorInNYC]

So this will continue to get interesting...

http://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/17336394/2016-rio-olympics-video-shows-us-swimmer-damaging-gas-station-fighting-security-guard-ryan-lochte-incident

The beginning part of this story makes it sound like Lochte himself fabricated the story, moreso than the collective group fabricating it.  Will be interested to see what happens.

Said ultimately what happened is they tried to open the bathroom door and it was locked, then they pushed it open and broke it.  A security guard and store manager confronted them (security guard had a pistol on him, but did not draw it) and demanded that they pay for the door.  The swimmers gave the manager some money (reported around $50 USD) and left.

The worst part about all of this is I don't really care too much that they broke the door.  Sometimes people drink and make dumb decisions.  If they pay the store manager ($50 was probably not enough) enough to pay for the door, then great.  I'm sure many other people wouldn't have the "sh*t happens" attitude about that as I do, but whatever, I could live with it.

The part that is embarassing, is the fabrication of the story.  That is completely unnecessary and outright wrong.

Also curious as to why the story was fabricated.  Did they think it would be a funny story to tell?  Did someone confront them back at the US camp about something and they made the story up on the spot?

[jsglow]

So this will continue to get interesting...

http://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/17336394/2016-rio-olympics-video-shows-us-swimmer-damaging-gas-station-fighting-security-guard-ryan-lochte-incident

The beginning part of this story makes it sound like Lochte himself fabricated the story, moreso than the collective group fabricating it.  Will be interested to see what happens.

Said ultimately what happened is they tried to open the bathroom door and it was locked, then they pushed it open and broke it.  A security guard and store manager confronted them (security guard had a pistol on him, but did not draw it) and demanded that they pay for the door.  The swimmers gave the manager some money (reported around $50 USD) and left.

The worst part about all of this is I don't really care too much that they broke the door.  Sometimes people drink and make dumb decisions.  If they pay the store manager ($50 was probably not enough) enough to pay for the door, then great.  I'm sure many other people wouldn't have the "sh*t happens" attitude about that as I do, but whatever, I could live with it.

The part that is embarassing, is the fabrication of the story.  That is completely unnecessary and outright wrong.

Also curious as to why the story was fabricated.  Did they think it would be a funny story to tell?  Did someone confront them back at the US camp about something and they made the story up on the spot?

That's what so weird about this.  I mean so what that they broke a door when they needed to pee and that a bunch of guys 'solved' the problem with wallet cash?  Truly, that should have been the end of the story.

'Yeah, I might have exercised some poor judgement early this morning but it's all good and nobody got hurt.'  But to fabricate this international incident and lie?  Now THAT'S stupid.

[StillAWarrior]

So this will continue to get interesting...

http://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/17336394/2016-rio-olympics-video-shows-us-swimmer-damaging-gas-station-fighting-security-guard-ryan-lochte-incident

The beginning part of this story makes it sound like Lochte himself fabricated the story, moreso than the collective group fabricating it.  Will be interested to see what happens.

Said ultimately what happened is they tried to open the bathroom door and it was locked, then they pushed it open and broke it.  A security guard and store manager confronted them (security guard had a pistol on him, but did not draw it) and demanded that they pay for the door.  The swimmers gave the manager some money (reported around $50 USD) and left.

The worst part about all of this is I don't really care too much that they broke the door.  Sometimes people drink and make dumb decisions.  If they pay the store manager ($50 was probably not enough) enough to pay for the door, then great.  I'm sure many other people wouldn't have the "sh*t happens" attitude about that as I do, but whatever, I could live with it.

The part that is embarassing, is the fabrication of the story.  That is completely unnecessary and outright wrong.

Also curious as to why the story was fabricated.  Did they think it would be a funny story to tell?  Did someone confront them back at the US camp about something and they made the story up on the spot?

I think this is where the whole, "Ryan Lochte is dumb as a post" comes into play.  Assuming this new narrative is true -- and I'm certainly leaning that way right now -- I'm guessing the entire incident happened and the guys were thinking, "wow...that was kind of wild" and it was pretty much over.  Then Lochte had a microphone in his face -- as he often does -- and decided to tell a wild story full of pretty significant embellishments (i.e., 99% BS).  The other guys probably thought, "WTF are you doing, Ryan?" but ultimately went with it.

[GooooMarquette]

Just another cover-up by those damn Rio officials.

Oh, wait....

[StillAWarrior]

And now the video.  Unfortunately, I don't do Portuguese.

[Benny B]

And now the video.  Unfortunately, I don't do Portuguese.

Is it just me, or does Brazilian Portugeuse sound like a perfect cross between French and Russian?

[Spotcheck Billy]

And now the video.  Unfortunately, I don't do Portuguese.

Guns were drawn

From an online translator:

Images of security cameras of a gas station in Rio show an uproar among four American swimmers and establishment. According to the police, based on images and testimonies, was ruled out that athletes have been assaulted, as had been reported by Ryan Lochte and James Feigen. The researchers said this Thursday (18) that they invented the theft.

The video, obtained by Globo TV, shows the swimmers coming out of the bathroom. According to the police and officials at the border, they robbed the place. For this reason, would have been prevented by security guards to leave the establishment that is in Barra da Tijuca, the path between the Lagoon, where they were at a party, and the Olympic Village.

The images show one of the swimmers by raising their hands while the safety cover. In an interview to a TV station, shortly after the episode, at dawn on Sunday (14) Lotche had said that the group was approached by men dressed in police.

The Globe had access with exclusivity to the testimony of officials of the tour, which details what they saw on sunday morning:

- at around 6am in the morning, a taxi model sedão parked inside the post for what the members use the bathroom;

- pesembarcaram of the car four men of great physical and height, one of them called attention to have hair almost bluish white, that photography is recognized as Ryan Lochte;

- the security guard told us at one point, the manager was very nervous and worried, called The declarente so that the ajudassse to monitor visitors who were "clutter" in the back of the establishment;

- the manager showed the bathroom where men had broken soap dispenser, paper and a plate of iron with banner information. Inform the declarant has engaged the 190, being asked to all wait on site until the arrival of a car of the Military Police the car did not arrive;

- the four men entered the taxi with the intention of leaving the site, but the taxi driver complied with the request of the security guards and remained stationary

- The SWIMMERS SHOUTED PROFANITY several times

- the men landed again and knocked the door of the vehicle violently and they were much altered, aggressive and clearly drunk

- a man recognized by photography as Joseph Gunnar Bentz showed a note of $20, stretching it with both hands and talking debochadamente in Portuguese too bad: "Come dollars! 60 reais"

- that the declarant and his friend showed his credentials and identified themselves as agents of security. Ryam Lochte and James Feigen left running.

- one of the security guards said that he and his friend stopped the other two and showed the plama hand (position of "stop"), indicating that it would accept the twenty dollars

- Lochte and feigen retornanaram to gasoline station, aggressive, toward the back of the declarant;

- according to the evidence, another security pulled out his gun and yelled for everyone to stop and sit on the floor;

- with the exception of Ryan Lochte, the remaining obdeceram;

- another safety drew his gun and shouted for everyone to stop;

- the declarant placed a hand on the breast of lochte and pushed him toward the ground, a
fact observed by foreigners, who are sat;

- an employee of the Unimed offered help in translation;

- after a few minutes of conversation with men received this twenty dollars and another hundred reais on grounds of damage caused in the bathroom;

- the official of the Unimed spoke to foreigners that they could go;

- not sure, but believes that foreigners have returned to the same taxi in which had arrived around 6h20 or 6h30 when the taxi went out of the place;

- the car of the PM; had not yet reached the site until 7am

- drew the attention of men talking in a loud voice: "You broke the plate"

- everyone rushed to the area of pumps, in front of the station;

[MU82]

That's what so weird about this.  I mean so what that they broke a door when they needed to pee and that a bunch of guys 'solved' the problem with wallet cash?  Truly, that should have been the end of the story.

'Yeah, I might have exercised some poor judgement early this morning but it's all good and nobody got hurt.'  But to fabricate this international incident and lie?  Now THAT'S stupid.

As my dad used to say: "We're a little disappointed about what you did. We're very disappointed that you lied about it."

[brandx]

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!  Matt G. is clearly guilty of character assassination for even suggesting Lochte wasn't on the up and up.  Hopefully he shows more restraint with the Gabby Douglas story.   

Attack all you want now. I just asked to wait for the facts before doing it.

Silly, I know.

[StillAWarrior]

I think the best possible spin at this point would be for Lochte to try to pass it off as a misunderstanding and then an exaggeration.  They were trying to leave; someone with a gun (i.e., the security guard) stopped them; the person with the gun was not a "real cop"; the person with the gun asked for money; they gave him money but not the phones and credentials; and then they left.  Frankly this is roughly consistent with story that they told.  Not completely, mind you -- he still lied about some pretty important details.  Then chalk the rest up to language barrier, misunderstanding, drunkenness, etc.

Being drunk and potential cultural differences could come into play.  In the US, if I vandalize your business and am getting ready to leave the scene, and you flash your gun at me and tell me to stay and pay for the damage, you've probably committed a more serious crime than I did.  And I might well view that as a shake down -- and if a douchebag characterize it as being "robbed".  Add a language barrier and lots of alcohol...and well...

This is not a defense of Lochte, as I think he definitely lied and embellished what happened.  He shouldn't have trashed the bathroom, shouldn't have lied to everyone (his mother, the press, authorities) and shouldn't have fled the country leaving his friends to face the authorities.  I'm just guessing this is how he will "spin" it.

[forgetful]

I think the best possible spin at this point would be for Lochte to try to pass it off as a misunderstanding and then an exaggeration.  They were trying to leave; someone with a gun (i.e., the security guard) stopped them; the person with the gun was not a "real cop"; the person with the gun asked for money; they gave him money but not the phones and credentials; and then they left.  Frankly this is roughly consistent with story that they told.  Not completely, mind you -- he still lied about some pretty important details.  Then chalk the rest up to language barrier, misunderstanding, drunkenness, etc.

Being drunk and potential cultural differences could come into play.  In the US, if I vandalize your business and am getting ready to leave the scene, and you flash your gun at me and tell me to stay and pay for the damage, you've probably committed a more serious crime than I did.  And I might well view that as a shake down -- and if a douchebag characterize it as being "robbed".  Add a language barrier and lots of alcohol...and well...

This is not a defense of Lochte, as I think he definitely lied and embellished what happened.  He shouldn't have trashed the bathroom, shouldn't have lied to everyone (his mother, the press, authorities) and shouldn't have fled the country leaving his friends to face the authorities.  I'm just guessing this is how he will "spin" it.

Everyone is jumping on the American's.  Having watched the video, there is next to no evidence that they caused the damage.  A sign (advertisement) fell over when one went into the bathroom.

They quite calmly went back to their taxi, where they were forced out by people with badges.  Then forced onto the ground and when Lochte stood up, a gun was directed at him.  They were then forced to hand over money for "alleged vandalism" and to not call the police (which they wouldn't have understood since it wasn't english).

Certainly sounds like a robbery.  The videos people posted and I've found on here do not have violent and belligerent americans, except for them wanting to leave.

As for inconsistencies.  There are way more on the side of Brazil/gas station owner.  Guns were drawn/not drawn, police were called/not called, they used the bathroom/they urinated in an alley.

Seems like a mess and most likely a combination of the gas station trying to extort money off wealthy americans, language complications, and embellishment. 

Frankly, if I were telling the story, I would have said I was robbed at gunpoint, that's what happened.  They were illegally detained at gunpoint and forced to hand over money.

[StillAWarrior]

Everyone is jumping on the American's.  Having watched the video, there is next to no evidence that they caused the damage.  A sign (advertisement) fell over when one went into the bathroom.

They quite calmly went back to their taxi, where they were forced out by people with badges.  Then forced onto the ground and when Lochte stood up, a gun was directed at him.  They were then forced to hand over money for "alleged vandalism" and to not call the police (which they wouldn't have understood since it wasn't english).

Certainly sounds like a robbery.  The videos people posted and I've found on here do not have violent and belligerent americans, except for them wanting to leave.

As for inconsistencies.  There are way more on the side of Brazil/gas station owner.  Guns were drawn/not drawn, police were called/not called, they used the bathroom/they urinated in an alley.

Seems like a mess and most likely a combination of the gas station trying to extort money off wealthy americans, language complications, and embellishment. 

Frankly, if I were telling the story, I would have said I was robbed at gunpoint, that's what happened.  They were illegally detained at gunpoint and forced to hand over money.

Honestly, I'd says I am pretty well on the fence about this one at this point.  Supposedly, a couple of the guys have now admitted the initial story was a fabrication.  But, if it went down pretty much how you described, then the original story is an embellishment, but not completely ridiculous.  If they didn't do the damage, I could understand describing it as being "robbed."  Even if they did do the damage, it's not completely ridiculous to refer to it that way if a security guard points a gun at you and demands money.

At this point...it's still fluid.  I'd like to hear what the other swimmers have said at this point.  As if often the case, the truth will probably reside somewhere in the middle with both sides trying to minimize their fault in the situation.

[GooooMarquette]

Everyone is jumping on the American's.  Having watched the video, there is next to no evidence that they caused the damage.  A sign (advertisement) fell over when one went into the bathroom.

They quite calmly went back to their taxi, where they were forced out by people with badges.  Then forced onto the ground and when Lochte stood up, a gun was directed at him.  They were then forced to hand over money for "alleged vandalism" and to not call the police (which they wouldn't have understood since it wasn't english).

Certainly sounds like a robbery.  The videos people posted and I've found on here do not have violent and belligerent americans, except for them wanting to leave.

As for inconsistencies.  There are way more on the side of Brazil/gas station owner.  Guns were drawn/not drawn, police were called/not called, they used the bathroom/they urinated in an alley.

Seems like a mess and most likely a combination of the gas station trying to extort money off wealthy americans, language complications, and embellishment. 

Frankly, if I were telling the story, I would have said I was robbed at gunpoint, that's what happened.  They were illegally detained at gunpoint and forced to hand over money.

You're trying really hard - harder even than the other three swimmers involved - to rationalize the whole thing away.

The lies and other behavior of the gas static owner and employees should be scrutinized and have consequences, but that doesn't make the vandalism and lies of the swimmers go away.

[forgetful]

Honestly, I'd says I am pretty well on the fence about this one at this point.  Supposedly, a couple of the guys have now admitted the initial story was a fabrication.  But, if it went down pretty much how you described, then the original story is an embellishment, but not completely ridiculous.  If they didn't do the damage, I could understand describing it as being "robbed."  Even if they did do the damage, it's not completely ridiculous to refer to it that way if a security guard points a gun at you and demands money.

At this point...it's still fluid.  I'd like to hear what the other swimmers have said at this point.  As if often the case, the truth will probably reside somewhere in the middle with both sides trying to minimize their fault in the situation.

My quoting you was not at all calling you out.  My apologies.  It was more agreement and commenting that everyone is awful quick to throw the American's under the bus. 

I'm also waiting to hear all the details.  Until then, Lochte and others get the benefit of the doubt, with the exception of Lochte being an obvious idiot.

You're trying really hard - harder even than the other three swimmers involved - to rationalize the whole thing away.

The lies and other behavior of the gas static owner and employees should be scrutinized and have consequences, but that doesn't make the vandalism and lies of the swimmers go away.

Not trying hard at all, just updating with facts as they are available.  Right now what we know for a fact is:

They used a gas station restroom. 

They were accused of vandalizing a poster and soap dispenser (no proof they actually did).

They were forced out of their taxi and held at gunpoint until they handed over money.

They returned to the olympic village without any cash or wallets.

I defend them only because everyone is accusing them of things like going to brothels, illegal drug deals, etc.  And at the moment, they are still the victims of an armed robbery (that is what the guards would have been charged with in the US).

[GooooMarquette]

My quoting you was not at all calling you out.  My apologies.  It was more agreement and commenting that everyone is awful quick to throw the American's under the bus. 

I'm also waiting to hear all the details.  Until then, Lochte and others get the benefit of the doubt, with the exception of Lochte being an obvious idiot.

Not trying hard at all, just updating with facts as they are available.  Right now what we know for a fact is:

They used a gas station restroom. 

They were accused of vandalizing a poster and soap dispenser (no proof they actually did).

They were forced out of their taxi and held at gunpoint until they handed over money.

They returned to the olympic village without any cash or wallets.

I defend them only because everyone is accusing them of things like going to brothels, illegal drug deals, etc.  And at the moment, they are still the victims of an armed robbery (that is what the guards would have been charged with in the US).

I'll add the some you keep conveniently forgetting to your list:

They vandalized a bathroom (mirrors, not just a soap dispenser), and lied to authorities and the press (and by extension, the world). 

Guess we now know why you chose 'forgetful.'

[Tugg Speedman]

Olympic Update ...

After 9 events in the Decathlon, Ashton Eaton is leading big with 8104 points  All that is left is the 1500 meters.  Eaton PB is 4:14, he would need a 4:02 to set a new WR (9045 which he set last  year).  So a new WR is unlikely but a gold medal is very likely.

In 5th Place is Zach Ziemek with 7844 points.  Zach is 153 points away from the Bronze medal.  A long-shot at this point.  But he should smash his PB of 8413 set at the Olympic trials in July.  He needs to run at 4:58 or better in the 1500 (his PB is 4:42 set last month).

Zach is from Lake Park High School in Roselle (IL). In 2011 he won so many events at the IL 3A state meet for Track that he alone would have finished in 5th place in the TEAM competition!

Zach just graduated from Wisconsin is the current NCAA indoor Heptathlon champion (7 events) and Wisconsin and Big 10 record holder in the Decathlon.

Go Zach!