Georgia's Gunnar Bentz remains in Rio de Janeiro over investigation into robbery claim
Georgia swimmer and U.S. Olympian Gunnar Bentz planned to be stateside by now.
Instead, Bentz and Olympic teammate Jack Conger were detained by Rio de Janeiro authorities before their scheduled flight was to take them back to the U.S.
Bentz and Conger were among the four swimmers involved in what was alleged to be a robbery early Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. The other two swimmers involved were Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen.
The initial story, as told by Lochte to NBC, was that the swimmers were in a taxi when they were stopped by men pretending to be police officers, who then robbed them of their cash and wallets at gunpoint. The story has since been called into question by Rio de Janeiro police, who ordered for Locthe and Feigen not to leave Brazil. Lochte had already flown back to the U.S. by the time this request was made.
ABC reported Thursday that Rio de Janerio officials have video footage of a swimmer breaking down a gas station bathroom and a fight with a security guard.
#BREAKING Brazilian authorities tell @ABC video shows "US swimmer" "breaking down" gas station restroom door "fighting" w/ security guard
— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) August 18, 2016
#BREAKING Brazil sources: #RyanLochte + 3 swimmers fabricated robbery story. Video shows swimmer "fighting" w/security at gas station @GMA
— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) August 18, 2016
Lochte's story, in a follow-up interview with NBC, changed slightly, with the former Florida swimmer saying that the taxi was parked at a gas station instead of being pulled over, and that while a gun was yielded it wasn't pointed on his forehead, among other details.
In a statement provided by U.S. Olympic Committee spokesperson Patrick Sandusky, Bentz, Conger and Feigen will speak with Rio de Janeiro authorities at some point Thursday.
"The three U.S. Olympic swimmers are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place (Thursday) to provide futhrer statements to the Brazillian authorities," the statement reads. "All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio."
Prior to this incident earning national attention, Bentz became Georgia's first-ever male gold medalist at the Olympics. He earned a gold medal as a part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay as he swam the third leg in the preliminary race. Bentz wasn't a part of the relay final, which featured Lochte, Michael Phelps, Conor Dwyer and Townley Haas.
This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Georgia's Gunnar Bentz remains in Rio de Janeiro over investigation into robbery claim."