Ryan Lochte Held Up At Gunpoint In Rio: His Mom Describes ‘Terrifying’ Incident

Ryan Lochte’s mother has reported that her Olympic swimmer son was held up at gunpoint and knifepoint in Rio after a party in the city on August 14. She described the terrifying incident, which thankfully left Ryan unharmed, to a sports reporter at the games.

Ryan Lochte was allegedly held at gunpoint and knifepoint after attending a party in downtown Rio de Janeiro on the night of August 13, according to the Olympic swimmer’s mother. Ryan’s mom, Ileana Lochte, told a reporter from Fox Sports Australia, Ben Way, that her son and three of his Team USA teammates were invited to the party by Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereria.

They were allegedly held up as they stopped for gas in the early hours of Sunday morning, August 14, after attending the party. The criminal and accomplices only got away with Ryan’s wallet, and everyone was thankfully left unharmed, according to Illeana. She told the Fox News Australia reporter that Ryan had relayed the incident to her via text, and that she was on her way to see him later that afternoon.

Meanwhile, the IOC is denying this incident ever happened, saying the story is “absolutely not true,” per spokesperson Mark Adams. The story gets stranger with Ryan’s personal coach, David Marsh, who is also the head coach for Team USA women’s swimming, denying the incident happened, too. But Ben Way is sticking with what Ryan’s mother told him:

For those asking...
All I can tell you is what Ryan's mother told me. And others, it would seem. I believe her 100% https://t.co/y5RxakZtVF

— Ben Way (@BenWayFOX) August 14, 2016