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The Associated Press reports that U.S. Olympic swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz are leaving Rio tonight.
Associated Press journalists saw Bentz and Conger checking in late Thursday for a flight leaving the country. They were whisked through security and did not have to wait in line.
The two were involved in an incident with Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen early Sunday morning in which the Lochte claimed the foursome was robbed at gunpoint by men dressed as police. An investigation has since revealed that Lochte fabricated the story.
According to police, that the quartet actually stopped at a gas station, where video evidence shows one or more of them vandalizing a gas station bathroom. They were then confronted by security as they attempted to get back in their taxi.
The duo pulled off their flight Wednesday night so they could be questioned by Rio police. Lochte is already back in the United States, while Feigen remains in Rio. Lochte and Feigen may still face charges after an investigation is conducted.
UPDATE (10:4x Rio time): NBC’s Gadi Schwartz posted video of Conger and Bentz at the Rio airport. Neither commented when pressed by assembled reporters.
Gunnar Bentz & Jack Conger headed back to the U.S. after speaking with Rio Police. #RyanLochte #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/kAHFO2FjIR
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) August 19, 2016
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Dear Ryan Lochte, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz are contradicting you and likely telling the story they wished they told earlier. Not only are you digging a personal public relation’s grave for yourself but appear to willingly drag the youngest swimmers who use to look up to you into your grave. Be a real man, tell the real truth (aka no bullsh#t) and stand up enough to help Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz salvage their reputations!!!
It is sad that the two “kids” in this story are the ones having to go through all of this while the “adult” is sitting at the comfort of his own home.
By the way, who in the world still lies to their mother at 32? None of this would have happened if Ryan would have just told his mother the truth.
I couldn’t have said it better.
The reports of this incident — including NBC’s — have said all the swimmers lied about what happened at the gas station. And still, I have yet to see anything indicating that Conger or Bentz ever lied about anything. When the story broke, the swimmers were advised by the USOC not say anything, on the theory that doing so could put them in legal jeopardy. So Conger and Bentz did not comment on the advice of their legal counsel. When they talked with authorities with their lawyers present, they told the truth. If these two weren’t involved in the vandalism, it’s unfortunate they’ve been branded the way they have. Hopefully they have a better appreciation for the responsibilities of representing the USA and US Swimming. And hopefully they’ve learned not to hang out with someone like Lochte, who can tarnish their reputations by association.