USOC issues apology for Ryan Lochte incident
By Nick Tylwalk
We don’t even know how the Ryan Lochte robbery saga is going to end yet, but the apology stage has already been reached.
Ryan Lochte might be guilty of filing a false crime report, as the Brazilian authorities think. He might be telling the truth when he said he and three other Team USA swimmers were accosted at gunpoint.
Either way, the USOC has felt the need to apologize.
Sports Illustrated reports that whatever Lochte and his swimming buddies did, it was something the USOC frowned upon. Here’s the complete statement:
"The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members. We will further review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we return to the United States. On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, we apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence. With three days remaining in the Olympic Games, our primary focus will remain on supporting the athletes who are still competing and celebrating the achievements of those who have finished."
It’s interesting that the apology uses the word “distracting,” as #LochteGate certainly has turned into a media circus. On the other hand, the Olympics are such a broad, wide-ranging affair that it’s difficult for any one incident to dominate the headlines.
Thursday night, the world was talking about Usain Bolt winning gold (again), and the host Brazilians were celebrating a victory in beach volleyball. While the Lochte scandal certainly wasn’t forgotten — NBC devoted some time to the latest developments near the very top of its prime time coverage — it wasn’t something that was discussed endlessly.
Related Story: All the latest developments in the Ryan Lochte saga
It’s also not over, meaning that Lochte and friends may end up at least partially vindicated. But their behavior leading up to the alleged robbery was embarrassing enough that the USOC has to weigh in, and that’s bad enough.