Ryan Lochte was robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro with three other American swimmers on Sunday shortly after their Olympic competition.
United States Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky said Lochte and swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, and Jimmy Feigen were apparently unharmed and safe, reported Swimming World magazine.
"According to the four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team. they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village," said the USOC, per Swimming World.
"Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities."
Lochte, 32, talked to NBC News about the robbery later Sunday.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte said. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground."
"And then 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.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."
Lochte posted a message on Twitter Sunday acknowledging the support of fans.
According to The Associated Press, an International Olympic Committee spokesman first denied the robbery report but later apologized, saying he was relying on initial information from the USOC that was incorrect.
Brazil's sports minister, Leonardo Picciani, said the American swimmers were "outside their places of competition and outside the appropriate time," said The AP.
Brazil has deployed 85,000 soldiers and police to secure the games, twice as many as Britain used during the 2012 London Olympics.