The Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero have been far from the disaster many expected it to be, but a group of United States swimmers escaped a horrifying situation unharmed early Sunday morning after their competitions had ended. Ryan Lochte said he and three other swimmers were robbed at gunpoint by criminals posing as policemen.
"The guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, get down and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever,'" Lochte said. "He took our money, he took my wallet - he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."
On Sunday, no doubt influenced by Team USA's experience and the other crimes that have been reported over the course of the Games, Australian officials announced that its athletes would no longer be able to step foot on Rio's most popular beaches starting at 6:00 p.m. local time each night.
Via CourierMail.com.au:
"Security is our primary concern for our athletes and team members.... For those [athletes] who have finished their competition, we have introduced further security protocols, especially for those traveling to the Ipanema and Copacabana area to ensure above all else we keep our team members safe.
We reiterated our initial protocols, which is they should travel in groups of three. We have put now the actual sand on the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches off limits [from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.]. There has been an increase in petty criminal -- but still criminal -- activity on the beaches.
If travelling at night after dark -- between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. -- that is only by vehicle, not by foot even if you're going 400 or 500 meters."
Earlier in the first week of the Games, two Australian coaches were robbed at knifepoint on Ipanema beach.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.