Whether or not Ryan Lochte has told the complete truth about what happened to him and three other American swimmers on Sunday morning in Rio remains to be seen. Maybe we’ll get to the bottom of the story, maybe not.
I do not doubt that Lochte was robbed in Rio, though, and I am left wondering why officials in the Brazilian city are so fixated on trying to prove he was lying.
They publicly questioned Lochte’s story, tried to poke holes in it, and they ordered the swimmer and teammate Jimmy Feigen to remain in Rio pending further questioning. Luckily Lochte had already left for the U.S. and got out, but Feigen still needs to deal with authorities. Meanwhile, the two other swimmers who were part of the alleged robbery, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were pulled off their airplane Wednesday and detained. That’s just taking things way too far.
Let’s all look at the reasons why one Brazilian judge has ordered all of this commotion, along with the LBS counterpoints for every argument.
Rio Judge: Notes a discrepancy between when Lochte said they left a party (4:00 am) and when they arrived at the Olympic village (minutes before 7:00 am).
LBS Counterpoint: What if the guys left at 4am, got robbed, their ride ditched them, and then it took a while to regroup and find another ride back? Nothing adds time to one’s night more than getting robbed and ditched at least 30 minutes away from where you’re staying. Or what if they were drunk and not really paying attention to the time they actually left, and they were an hour off? Isn’t that plausible?
Rio Judge: Analyzing their behavior and body language on the security footage at the Olympic village, they did not look like they had been robbed.
LBS Counterpoint: Are you serious? Now we’re judging how their reactions looked on security footage? Give me a break. And sorry, I watched the video and I didn’t see anyone acting jovial.
Rio Judge: Lochte said one armed man robbed them, but Feigen said there were multiple guys.
LBS Counterpoint: Lochte could have just been focusing on the one he dealt with who was in his face when he said that, because he told NBC armed men robbed them. Doesn’t sound like a discrepancy to me.
Critics: They have been unable to track down the taxi driver.
LBS Counterpoint: Lochte says when they got back in the car at gas station, the driver wouldn’t drive. Hence, driver could have been an accomplice and therefore would not step forward.
Critics: Lochte changed story about car being pulled over.
LBS Counterpoint: Asking car to pull over at gas station and then the car not driving after you get back in could also be described as being robbed while you were pulled over.
Critics: Swimmers had wallets in security footage from Olympic Village.
LBS Counterpoint: Lochte said in NBC interview his wallet was stolen, while cash, not wallets was taken from others. Seems strange they only took cash not wallets from the others, but it’s not an inconsistency in Lochte’s story.
Critics: Lochte changed story about gun being pointed at his head to gun being pointed at him.
LBS Counterpoint: I can chalk that up to natural embellishment of storytelling.
Maybe we will find out that Lochte was lying about some parts of the story or all of it. I just know that I came up with plenty of good reasons to dispel the theories riding around Rio.
And to a greater point, for a city that has poor safety as Rio has, they sure have chosen to focus heavily on the specific details of one crime. Let’s have a little refresher and remind you of all the safety issues in the city since the Olympics began, and then you tell me how much you doubt Lochte and other swimmers being robbed.
Aug. 4 Attempted robber near Olympic park killed by someone who may or may not have been a Russian diplomat
Aug. 4 Australian Olympics photographer robbed of his equipment
Aug. 5 Two Australian rowing coaches robbed at knifepoint
Aug. 6 Bullet hole comes through media tent at Olympics equestrian center
Aug. 7 Olympics security chief attacked at knifepoint by robber
–> authorities attempted to “hush up” details of the shooting
Aug. 8 Belgian judo athlete who won bronze robbed, beaten up on beach
–> Brazilian media claim he was robbed by prostitute
Aug. 10 Second bullet found in equestrian center
Aug. 10 Glass on media bus shatters due to what those on board say is bullets
–> Police downplay incident, say stones caused glass to break
Aug. 14 Ryan Lochte, three other American swimmers allegedly robbed at gunpoint
–> Brazilian judge pokes holes in story
Aug. 16 British athlete held up at gunpoint
There have been numerous events where Brazilian or Rio officials have tried to downplay any example of negative press about the city and the Olympics. It should not shock you that they’re trying to do the same here to Lochte, and it doesn’t mean we should think Lochte is lying.
