USOC and USA Swimming Release Statements on Ryan Lochte Mess

A Code of Conduct has been mentioned. Lochte & Feigen should be indicted. Plus, those two, Bentz & Conger should all be kicked out of the USOC & Swimming. What they did is akin to cheating. This is why the term “Ugly American” was coined. There is no excuse for what all (4) of these Olympic athlete’s did.

They hAve hurt the USA and US swimming by their conduct. They should be thrown out of the organization and not permitted to swim in the Olympics again. They should have known better and have hurt all other swimmers representing USA

From what I gather from Mr. Lochte’s statement, there may have been an issue with the language barrier during the incident. While that is no excuse for the group’s boorish behavior, I can see how they may not have understood that the men were actually paid security guards for the gas station. If men demanded money from any of us in a foreign country (at gun point) when we didn’t really understand what they were saying, we might have suspected that we too were being robbed. Nevertheless, Mr. Lochte should have returned to Rio to issue a public apology the IOC, the USOC, and the people of Brazil. It’s actually not too late for him to do so. I think it might be too harsh a penalty to ban him from competition for life or even claw back his medal (or medals) earned in the pool. I think he will ultimately pay dearly when his sponsors drop him like a hot potato. He will also likely be remember more for this incident than his accomplishments in the pool. When your name and legacy become irreparably tarnished, that is really difficult to deal with over the rest of your years on earth.

Ryan Lochte’s and teammates’ false claims are not only ugly, they are newsworthy. In a news cycle of important events and international disasters, I understand why some are frustrated that his story gets top billing, but it still matters:

Lochte’s actual apology, a long yet unspecific statement issued today shows little accountability. Lochte said he’s guilty of, “Not being careful and candid.” AKA lying? Making false statements is a punishable offense.

As a large city, Rio faces its own challenges with areas of severe poverty. His cover up story disrespects a nation that struggles with real crime, and still manages to be a gracious host.

So for equity sake as many on this thread would support based on their comments: let’s kick every swimmer out of the sport that does something stupid along with anyone near him or associated with him at that time. Additionally, let’s take the medals of any teammates on any race away with him. How asinine…If the fanatics on this chat had there way every international swimmer from every country would be banned and in jail. I’ve personally been in FINA meets in Europe where half-of the Brazilians deck-changed in front of the whole crowd. There is not only a ban on that, but also an indecent exposure law that we were all warned about before the meet. So should all of those people who flashed the entire crowd “illegally” and to the disgust of women and children be sanctioned, put in jail, and not allowed to swim any longer? Of course not. They take whatever is handed down, and life goes on. A whole chat does not make disparaging and bigoted stereotyped comments about them and call for them to clean the deck with toothbrushes along with be fined thousands of dollars? That would be idiotic…as are the prejudiced comments above. Should every person on the Brazil team at this FINA meet have been pulled off of their plane; held at gunpoint and in the country for two days against their will with no charges while a mob with pitchforks berates them? Should all of their team’s medals taken away because they were there at the meet on the same team during the “illegal” deck change that embarrassed the host and disgusted everyone there? Should the hosts and law enforcement make sure they were all (including every teammate present) be banned from the sport or sanctioned just because they were present and did not report the “crime”? Of course not. That would be stupid; just as the overblown response and call for execution here is.

Lochte was drunk and stupid, pulled a metal sign off the wall and made a bunch of noise, and deserves what he gets; but this is not a capital offense just as the crime of indecent exposure was not. Feigen, although a loyal teammate, was an idiot for backing Lochte’s story in an official claim. He’s made his restitution and will have to deal with other consequences from the governing body because this whole thing was overblown by Lochte. Feigen’s crime was loyalty and filing a false claim – that’s it.

Conger’s and Bentz’s only offense was being there. They never made a claim of robbery, lied, broke any law, or backed Lochte. For that, they had guns pulled on them, were terrified for their life, all for a 200real metal sign that was damaged. That’s insanity and is third world vigilante justice. On top of that, they were yanked off of an airplane with no charges as “witnesses.” That’s not how the judicial system in a developed country system behaves. Should the Europeans have done this to the entire Brazilian team for illegal indecent exposure? I know Conger and Bentz and know their character. It is above reproach; but they were blown away because someone that they considered a hero that they got to know after Trials and at training camp actually asked them to go out with him. For that everyone here wants their heads. If that is the case, all of those swimmers at the FINA meet should have equal sanctions…and that would be ridiculous as are many of these comments that are actually ignorant of the facts. I know that this will start a firestorm of those saying it is “not the same thing” and calling me names. Please look in the mirror first as I will not post again.