Two U.S. Olympic swimmers flew home from Brazil on Thursday after a local crowd jeered them, calling them "liars" and "fakes", and police accused them of fabricating a story about being robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Games. Their departure marked what the U.S. Olympic team hopes will be the closing stages of an incident that has embarrassed the host city, angered the police and government, unleashed a storm on social media, and dominated news coverage of South America's first Olympics. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) issued an apology after the departure of Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, who were among four U.S. swimmers shown to have lied about being stopped by gunmen posing as police in the early hours of Sunday. "We apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence," USOC chief Scott Blackmun said in a statement. It confirmed police accusations, including that one of the swimmers … [Read more...] about U.S. says sorry as swimmers leave Brazil to jeers
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Brazil police pull U.S. swimmers from flight in robbery probe
Brazilian police stopped three U.S. Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home on Wednesday to question them about inconsistencies in their accounts of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, police sources said. Federal police also want to question gold medalist Ryan Locke, but he had already returned to the United States. A Brazilian judge ordered police on Wednesday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medalist James Feigen so they could be questioned over their description of the robbery, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and also involved team mates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. Lochte, 32, one of swimming's most decorated Olympians, had flown home already on Monday, a police spokesman said. The other three men were stopped by police at Rio's international airport on Wednesday evening, one police source said. A spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. "We can confirm that … [Read more...] about Brazil police pull U.S. swimmers from flight in robbery probe
Ledecky gets third gold, Franklin a first in Rio
USA’s Katie Ledecky competes in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. — AFP/VNA Photo Viet Nam News RIO DE JANEIRO — Freestyle queen Katie Ledecky won her third gold medal of the Rio Olympics by anchoring the US women to victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay on Wednesday while struggling Missy Franklin opened her account without being in the water for the final. Australia, who led until Ledecky dived in and turned the race around, took silver and Canada the bronze. The US were the defending champions but only veteran Allison Schmitt, who swam the leadoff leg in Rio, was in the race lineup from that London 2012 golden quartet that also beat Australia into second place. Leah Smith and Maya DiRado swam second and third respectively before Ledecky, who won the 400 freestyle on Sunday and 200 free on Tuesday, brought home the gold with a … [Read more...] about Ledecky gets third gold, Franklin a first in Rio
Michael Phelps suspended for six months: USA Swimming
American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, was suspended for six months by USA Swimming on Monday following his recent arrest on a drunken driving charge. United States at the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Russia next August, USA Swimming said in a statement. … [Read more...] about Michael Phelps suspended for six months: USA Swimming
The undercurrent at the national swimming team
Deputy Chief of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, Mr. Lam Quang Thanh, said that he was astonished to hear that five Vietnamese swimmers were cast out from the Bolles school in Florida, USA. Local swimmers face troubles in US training trip Swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc. The official said that the Vietnamese national swimming team took initiative in leaving Bolles and there was no conflict between Vietnamese and US experts, as well as between two Vietnamese coaches – Dang Anh Tuan and Nguyen Tan Quang. Secretary General of the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association, Mr. Dinh Viet Hung, explained: “We chose Bolles because this school has had a good record in training many outstanding swimmers. Many world champions are also practicing at Bolles.” “This is a private high school where foreign students have to pay school fee of $47,000 per year. But for foreign athletes, who meet English standards, can stay and study for free. However, when Vietnamese … [Read more...] about The undercurrent at the national swimming team