Ryan Lochte gives first post-Olympics interview to NBC

Swimming star says ‘I over-exaggerated that story’ which might be the understatement of the summer.

Ryan Lochte has had the spotlight on him for all the wrong reasons recently and he has tried to explain why via a release, which sounded more like a non-apology apology than clearing up anything about his robbery claim. As it turned out, the story he told was just that — a made up story.

In a report by SI.com, the 12-time Olympic medalist sat down the NBC’s Matt Lauer for a more in-depth interview, where he did his best to explain the events that took place at a Rio de Janeiro gas station.

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“I over-exagerrated that story,” he said “If I didn’t do that, we wouldn’t be in this mess… none of this would’ve happened it was my immature behavior.”

That portion of the story aired on Saturday’s NBC Nightly News. The entire interview can be seen on the Today Show on Monday, although another portion of it will be shown on the network’s primetime Olympics coverage tonight.

Lochte took full responsibility for the aftermath that forced three of his teammates to stay in Rio after he had already returned home. Two were pulled off a flight while another had his passport held, but all three were eventually allowed to leave the country.

The 32-year-old also admitted he omitted details in his initial account which he tried to clear up in an Instagram post:

Lochte said after his loss in the 200 Individual Medley won by Michael Phelps that he might be back which begs the question, will the U.S. Olympic Committee allow him to try again in four years? This incident will follow him wherever he goes. In addition, it is very likely that he will lose some, if not all of his sponsors.