Ryan Lochte has admitted that he let his teammates down with his actions at a Rio gas station and the subsequent events.
“I let my team down, and you know, I wanted to be there. Like, I don’t want them to think I left and left them dry. They’re my teammates. I wanted definitely to be there,” Lochte told NBC’s Matt Lauer as he fought back his emotions. (RELATED: Hookstead’s Hot Take: Obama Should Have Sent The Military To Rescue Our Swimmers)
The swimming superstar also claimed he waited so long to break his silence because he wanted to make sure his teammates got back safely. (SLIDESHOW: This Nearly Naked Model Is All The Motivation You Need For The Olympics)
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Lochte and his fellow teammates found themselves in a serious situation after claiming they were robbed at a Rio gas station. Lochte’s account was called into question, and the Brazilian police claimed he lied about being robbed. (RELATED: American Swimmer Ryan Lochte Admits Parts Of His Robbery Story Aren’t True [VIDEO])
What is known for a fact is that Lochte and three of his teammates were held at gunpoint and were forced to hand over money. The American swimmers believe it was a robbery, and the Brazilians believe it was simply a negotiation.