Rockville's Jack Conger, 3 Other Team USA Swimmers Robbed at Gunpoint in Rio: USOC

Rockville swimmer Jack Conger and three other members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, including Ryan Lochte, were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning as they left a club in Rio De Janerio, according to the United States Olympic Committee.

Conger, Lochte, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen said they left "France House" early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village when the cab was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers, USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. The individuals demanded the athletes' money and personal belongings.

The USOC said all four swimmers are safe and cooperating with authorities. Conflicting reports had surfaced earlier in the day about the alleged robbery with the International Olympic Committee saying the report was not true. Lochte's mother, Ileana Lochte, told USA Today that the swimmer was robbed at gunpoint.

Conger’s mother, Bridget, told The Washington Post, “All I know is Jack is safe and in Rio,” saying she learned of the incident on social media.

The gunmen ordered the swimmers to get down on the ground, Lochte told NBC, and the other three complied, but Lochte didn't. At that point, a robber pulled a gun, Lochte said, "cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down,’ and I put my hands up."

The thieves took the swimmers' wallets and money, but Lochte said they left his cell phone and Olympic credentials.

According to his mother, Lochte was in a cab with another teammate on his way to meet Brazillian swimmer Thiago Pereira when the alleged incident occurred. Pereira’s representative Flávio Perez told the Washington Post the incident occurred after a birthday celebration at a club. Perez added that Pereira and his wife had left the club earlier but later called Lochte when he heard what happened. Lochte reportedly had his wallet stolen.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters that the report was not true during a daily briefing.
The swimmers were leaving "France House," located at the Brazilian Equestrian Society. Named "Club France," the venue, according to Rio Times, "will transform into a nightclub complete with DJ’s and a dance floor that can hold up to two thousand people," for eight consecutive nights. International houses have been a tradition at the Olympics for some time but became a more mainstream tradition at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Lochte, 32, is a 12-time Olympic medalist. Along with Team USA, Lochte took home the gold in the 4×200 meter freestyle Saturday. Conger was slated to swim in a relay for Team USA, but was replaced by Michael Phelps.
Photo Credit: Jack Conger, via Team USA/Flickr.