Ryan Lochte confirms he was held up at gunpoint in Rio

Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps of the United States listen to their national anthem on the Olympic podium. Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps of the United States listen to their national anthem on the Olympic podium. Photo: Michael Sohn, STF Photo: Michael Sohn, STF Image 1 of / 72 Caption Close Ryan Lochte confirms he was held up at gunpoint in Rio 1 / 72 Back to Gallery

UPDATE TWO: The IOC has finally admitted that the reports of Ryan Lochte and three other swimmers being robbed at gunpoint were true. The International Olympic committee spokesman changed course from his earlier statements and apologized, blaming his comments on initial information from the USOC "that was wrong," the Associated Press reported.

UPDATE: The IOC issued a statement on Sunday saying that the reports of Ryan Lochte being held up at gunpoint were "absolutely not true," but Lochte himself and US Olympic officials are confirming the incident did occur.

US Olympic officials announced late Sunday morning that Lochte and three other US swimmers were robbed at gunpoint by assailants posing as Brazilian police. The official statement gives more details:

According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village. Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities.

FOX Sports and USA Today also spoke with Lochte's mother, who reaffirmed the reports. From the USA Today report:

Early Sunday morning, Ryan Lochte was with at least one U.S. teammate in a cab heading to meet up with Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira when the cab stopped to get gas, Ileana Lochte said. She said the group was held up and confronted by people who had guns and knives.

Lochte's mother said his wallet was stolen.

A few hours after the reports surfaced, Lochte himself told NBC News that he was robbed at gunpoint.

"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground.

"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, "Get down," and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."

Why the IOC disagrees with his story is at this point unknown.

ORIGINAL STORY: Rio Olympic organizers confirmed Sunday morning that they are investigating reports that US swimming star Ryan Lochte was held up at gunpoint this weekend.

FOX Sports reported that Lochte was attending a party with Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira and three other members of the US swim team when the hold-up occurred. No one was injured, but Lochte's mother told FOX that she was joining her son at his hotel room after the "terrifying" incident.

Rio 2016 organisers confirm they are investigating an incident where #USA's Ryan Lochte was held at gunpoint #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/YNYLGA8d3S — Ben Ransom (@BenRansomSky) August 14, 2016

Lochte had a lot to celebrate in Rio. He was an integral part of the American 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay team, earning his 12th Olympic gold medal.

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Unfortunately for Lochte, Rio hasn't been the safest place for revelry. Since the Olympics began, the city has been beset by episodes of violence. A Judo medalist got a black eye during a mugging on Copacabana beach, Portugal's education minister was robbed at knifepoint and two Australian rowing coaches suffered the same fate on Ipanema Beach shortly after the opening ceremony.

On Friday, an Olympic officer was shot and killed after taking a wrong turn into a slum.

The US Department of State calls Rio's crime rating "critical."

"Street crime is a problem especially in the evenings and late at night. In Rio, robbery, assault, burglary and theft are concerns for foreigners and Brazilians alike," the Department of State website cautions. "Criminals are determined and sophisticated, which requires visitors to be alert to their surroundings.

"Violent crimes (murder, kidnapping, carjacking, armed assault, and burglary) occur regularly."