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US Olympic
swimmer Ryan Lochte
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US Olympic swimmer Ryan
Lochte, who had falsely claimed he and three teammates were robbed in Rio,
apologized Friday for his behavior, saying he should have been "more
careful and candid" in explaining what happened.
Media
report continues:
"I
should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that am
sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors and the
hosts of this great event," Lochte said in a statement carried on Twitter
and Instagram.
Lochte's
statement came as criticism of him poured in for causing such a huge and
unnecessary distraction at the world's premier sporting event, a competition
watched by billions of people.
Lochte
said he waited until now to speak out because he wanted to be sure the three
other swimmers with him that night -- Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy
Feigen -- would be free to leave Brazil.
The
swimmer, who has 12 medals to his name including a gold from Rio in the 4X200
freestyle relay, had claimed a man posing as a police officer robbed him and
his teammates while they were coming back from a party in a taxi.
Police
later said a video showed a security official pulling his weapon to restrain a
drunk and angry Lochte and his teammates because they tried to leave after
vandalizing a gas station bathroom.
The
32-year-old Lochte nevertheless called the incident "traumatic."
"It's
traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country -- with a
language barrier -- and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to
let you leave," he said.
"I am very proud to represent my country in Olympic competition and this was a situation that could and should have been avoided. I accept my responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons."
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