Ryan Lochte’s apology statement: The full text vs. the subtext

While Lochte didn’t really admit to fabricating his story, the United States Olympic Committee confirmed it was not a robbery.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told The Associated Press the panel was formed Friday to look into the behavior of Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen.

Gunnar Bentz released a statement late Friday night, giving his version of the story. He characterized his interaction with investigators as being a witness.

Lochte said in the statement that he wants to apologise for his behaviour last weekend. “I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned from valuable lessons”. Lochte broke his silence about the matter the next morning, on Friday.

Lochte’s attorney, Jeff Ostrow, said the athletes had moved out after the completion of their sporting events and that his client had returned to the United States.

He did not, however, roll back on his allegations the swimmers had been robbed at gunpoint by men posing as police. I regret this situation has drawn attention away from the Olympics, which have been hosted so incredibly well by Brazil and its citizens. Police had pulled them off a flight on Wednesday night for further questioning. The pair flew to Miami on Friday morning. Police said that instead of being robbed, one of the swimmers had vandalised a petrol station after the group stopped the taxi there to use a bathroom.

“. and the people of Brazil who welcomed us to Rio and worked so hard to make sure that these Olympic Games provided a lifetime of great new memories”. The gas station owner said Lochte, who later acknowledged being intoxicated, also urinated on the outer wall before leaving. The commission will investigate the affair and could sanction the athletes if they considered their behaviour violated the Olympic charter in some way.

The 32-year-old has said sorry for not being “more careful and candid” about the claim.

“It was my fault”, Lochte, who has also made a mea culpa on U.S. television, told Globo.

Police announced Thursday that their investigation found the swimmers were not the victims of a robbery.

Brazilian officials have suggested bringing charges against Lochte and other swimmers, though whether this Twitter apology will help lessen the chances of that remains to be seen. In his apology today, Lochte continues to stress that the robbery at gunpoint did happen.

“I over-exaggerated the story”, he said.

But Veloso insisted there was no evidence the guard’s actions were unreasonable. “It is not representative of what is expected as Olympians, as Americans, as swimmers and as individuals”, Wielgus said in a statement Thursday night.