There was a pretty extensive thread on this with most saying Lochte lied and I argued heavily with a few others that it was the Brazil government that was lying.
USA Today publishing the first critical account of the Brazilian Governments story, which IMO has turned now turned from a robbery into an extortion of four Olympian American swimmers, who were held unlawfully in a foreign country and prevented from leaving.
The article is attached so you can read it all.
From the article:
"But 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."
And the lying by Brazil-
At a news conference Thursday, Rio police chief Fernando Veloso characterized the athletes' actions at the gas station as vandalism. He said they also had broken a soap dispenser and mirror inside the restroom. Reports quickly grew that the Americans had trashed the restroom.
A USA TODAY Sports videographer who visited the bathroom Thursday found no damage to soap dispensers and mirrors and said none of those items appeared to be new. Some media accounts suggested the men had broken down a door, which USA TODAY Sports also did not observe.
Bentz said in his statement that he believes there are surveillance videos shot from different angles that have not been released. He also said he did not see anyone damage the bathroom or even enter it.
Of the videos available, including footage from a camera trained on the restroom doors, a review by USA TODAY Sports does not find any showing the swimmers going near the bathrooms. They are not seen entering or coming out of them on those recordings.
Deluz said it never came up that night: In the negotiations he brokered between the swimmers and the guards, the only damage mentioned was the sign Lochte tore down.
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#teambro
I am sure the law enforcement community in Brazil feather their nests with gratuity's and shakedowns - SOP - standard operating procedure.
I think there is a lot of fabrication from one side (Brazil) with a slight exaggeration from the other side (Lochte). At least Lochte quickly acknowledged his exaggeration. Whatever...we've been around the this tree quite enough for the past week.
Yeah that really does suck. It seems like speedo gave lochte the shaft without waiting for the other ball to drop. Important facts might slip through the cracks.
He hasn't lost that much. Those endorsements were at the end of their cycle and since the Olympics are over he wasn't getting 10 million in endorsements. He probably lost less than 1 million. Olympic swimmers basically get most of their endorsements leading up to and including the Olympics. Once the Olympics are over the endorsements dry up. In a few months when this blows over the endorsements will return.
The idea they investigated the incident based on a foreign media report is odd enough but to embellish the details AND potentially threaten legal action again the swimmers...odd behavior by police who really should have had no hand in the matter.
Exactly...what did Gabby Douglas do that many other Olympians haven't done themselves? Not put her hand over her heart? Oh the horror!!! What a lame assed bullshit to get all pissed off about against a dedicated young athlete.
For many there was a racial element.
When these same people ignore all other athletes, who also didn't do so, and only difference is that they were all white. Sure...why not?
Lochte's initial lie was not a lie, but when he admitted to some wrongdoing the other day, according to this link that is a lie?
It's really naive to think that was not the driving force behind the "controversy".
Lochte's initial lie was not a lie, but when he admitted to some wrongdoing the other day, according to this link that is a lie?
I'm not following this. The guy loses huge endorsement deals and lies for what reason exactly? Doesn't make sense.