USA Today did an extensive investigation of the Ryan Lockte incident.
(Now there’s a radical idea for journalism—investigating instead of repeating rumors, ignoring facts, and embellishing a story.)
Investigators found Lochte and his teammates are not entirely in the wrong and that the Rio police chief may also have a slight case of pants on fire.
… a narrative of the night’s events – constructed by USA TODAY Sports from witness statements, official investigations, surveillance videos and media reports – supports Lochte’s later account in which he said he thought the swimmers were being robbed when they were approached at a gas station by armed men who flashed badges, pointed guns at them and demanded money. Source
There is no evidence of vandalism in the rest room or even that they entered it. Yet I’m still reading that they broke a mirror, a soap dispenser and some sources even throw in a door. According to eye witnesses and surveillance, they didn’t enter the rest room.
The swimmers urinated behind the building and Lochte tore down an advertisement from a wall. Then they attempted to leave the area.
There is evidence that security guards who could have been off duty police flashed badges, pulled guns and demanded money in Portuguese. If I were in a foreign country and men pulled guns on me demanding money I probably would wet myself think I was being robbed.
The swimmers had been partying, drinking, and celebrating their gold medals. With the language barrier and their diminished capacities, it isn’t difficult to see why Lochte may have thought they had been robbed as he “over exaggerated” the story. It isn't a false police report if you really think it happened.
Genetics has been very good to Ryan Lochte. He has served successfully as a fashion model, company spokesman, TV star, role model, and world class athlete with 12 Olympic medals and over 90 medals overall.
One inebriated night of celebration should not cancel out a brilliant career. He has taken responsibility for his actions. I’m sure he has learned a life lesson. I want him to be forgiven. I want to see him representing this country and winning medals in Tokyo.
If you can’t forgive him, you can always vote him off of Dancing with the Stars -- or as I call it Dancing with People Who Are More Famous Than Most People-- since I usually don’t know most of the “stars” who are on it.
Yeezy and Carter Lochte
(Ryan's Frenchie and Dobie)