BEVO BEAT Swimming & Diving Texas’ Jack Conger issues statement, ready to ‘get back in the pool’ Longhorn swimmer returned back to Austin on Friday Posted August 20th, 2016


Texas swimmer Jack Conger should’ve arrived home in Austin around 1:45 p.m. Friday as a hero — a gold medal winner as part the 4×200-meter freestyle relay team.

Instead, the PR nightmare from a night out with Ryan Lochte continues.

Conger issued a statement late Friday independent of UT describing his recollection of events that fateful night in Rio de Janeiro with Lochte, Gunnar Bentz and Texas-ex Jimmy Feigen.


Lochte returned stateside almost immediately after claiming the group was robbed by gunpoint at a gas station. That story has been deemed false, and Lochte’s reputation is now shattered.

Back in Rio, Feigen was ordered to donate almost $11,000 to a local sports charity before charges were dropped. Bentz and Conger have been portrayed as witnesses in various media reports, but both returned home Friday.

U.S. officials have opened their own inquiry and will determine if the four swimmers deserve any more punishment.

Conger could not be reached on Saturday, but friends told the American-Statesman that Conger was “fired up and ready to get back in the pool.” Conger will be a senior during the 2016-17 academic year.

The text of the full statement from Conger:

It’s good to be back home in the U.S. Participating in the Olympics was a wonderful experience, and I want to express my appreciation to Brazil and to Rio de Janeiro for being wonderful hosts. I also want to express my gratitude for the support I’ve received from my family and friends, USA Swimming, the US Olympic Committee, and the University of Texas.

Unfortunately, one event has become the focus of attention, and I want to briefly address that event today. First and foremost, I deeply regret the trouble and embarrassment this event has brought to the people of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, and the distraction it has caused from the achievements of my fellow Olympians. Brazil and Rio have staged a great Games, and it was a privilege to be there and to represent the United States of America. I also want to express my regret for its impact on USA Swimming and the USOC.

Let me begin by emphasizing that I have been completely truthful in my statements throughout this unfortunate situation, including the information I provided to US officials before leaving Brazil. In fact, the Brazilian authorities made clear to me from the very beginning that I was being considered only a witness, not a suspect.

Perhaps it will be helpful to provide a summary of what I believe happened that night:

Early Sunday morning I was with USA swimming teammates celebrating at the French House. Four of us took a taxi back to the Olympic Village, and on the way we pulled into a gas station to use the restroom, but ultimately relieved ourselves outside, for which I apologize. Ryan Lochte removed a poster from a nearby wall, which apparently alerted the gas station employees, leading to our being confronted by two armed security men. Although I cooperated with their requests while there was a heated exchange among others, at one point a weapon was pointed at me. Eventually, a man appeared who was able to translate for us, helping to defuse the situation. We paid some money to compensate them for the torn poster, and returned to the Village in a different taxi.

This has been an unsettling, humbling and frightening experience. It’s a reminder that all of us, when we travel and especially when we represent the US in the Olympics, are ambassadors for our country and should be on our best behavior.

Again, I want to express my appreciation to Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, and my apologies. I appreciate the support I have received from my family and friends, as well as the support I’ve received from my teammates and so many others. Now, I am looking forward to getting back into my normal routine of school and swimming.

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