Police seek cab driver who drove U.S. swimmers

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RIO DE JANEIRO — A day after swimming star Ryan Lochte and three of his U.S. teammates were held up at gunpoint, police here were trying to get more information.

                  

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Mario Andrada, a spokesman for Rio 2016, said police spoke to “some of the athletes” on Sunday.

“The police is looking for the cab driver who drove them back, who seems to be holding more information about this,” Andrada said. “We just learned that the police spoke with the athletes involved, and they are looking for the cab driver to get more information.”

Lochte was with teammates Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen in a taxi early Sunday morning when it was pulled over.

Lochte said the car was approached by guys with a police badge, who pulled out their guns and told the athletes to get on the ground. Lochte initially refused, and one of the men cocked a gun to Lochte’s forehead.

Lochte said the man took his wallet.

None of the athletes was physically harmed.

“We obviously regret that the violence got so close to athletes,” Andrada said. “We have requested the security authorities that they need to make sure everybody is safe everywhere in the city. We apologize to those involved, and once again we regret that violence is still an issue in these Games.”

The swimmers were out after the end of competition here. Lochte, 32, won his 12th Olympic medal as part of the 4x200 freestyle relay.