U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte released a statement via Instagram apologizing for the way events unfolded in the aftermath of the alleged “robbery” incident at the Rio Summer Games. Police later said Lochte’s version of events at a gas station was untrue, and he and teammate James Feigen were indicted by officials on a charge of falsely reporting a crime. Feigen will be allowed to leave Rio on Friday after he pays about $11,000 in fines, per a settlement Feigen reached with a judge. Lochte left Brazil on Tuesday. Lochte’s statement appears to maintain his story of events in lieu of admitting the alleged lie. He apologized for his “behavior,” adding that he should’ve been “more careful and candid” in his description of the night. He also said he was sorry for “my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics.” Fellow Team USA swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were both at the gas station that night and allegedly vandalized the property. The two left the country Thursday after providing testimony to police officials. “It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country,” Lochte wrote, “and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to let you leave, but regardless of the behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors, and the hosts of this great event.”
