Gunner Bentz and 3 Other Team USA Swimmers Robbed in Rio: USOC

Georgia swimmer Gunnar Bentz was among four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team who were robbed early Sunday morning as they left a club in Rio De Janerio, according to the United States Olympic Committee.

Bentz, along with Ryan Locthte Jack Conger 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. In an interview with NBC, Lochte detailed the event, saying that at one point he had a gun cocked at his forehead when he refused to get on the ground. Conflicting reports had surfaced earlier in the day about the robbery, with the International Olympic Committee saying the report was not true.

Lochte's mother, Ileana Lochte, confirmed to USA Today that the swimmer was robbed at gunpoint earlier in the day.

According to his mother, Lochte was in a cab with another teammate on his way to meet Brazilian 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.

Photo Credit: Team USA/Flickr