OT: US Swimmers removed from airplane by Brazilian authorities

Submitted by Go Blue in NC on

Per USOC, USA swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight back to the US by Brazilian authorities this evening. Obviously limited information at this point and I know another thread addresses this issue but figured it would get buried. Will update the OP as more info comes out.

Link: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/766091610102915072

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stephenrjking

August 18th, 2016 at 12:09 AM ^

Hilarious. Of course it's a big deal, and they're proving it by taking a big risk that they will be perceived as overreacting. These are significantly more resources than they are perceived to invest in other crimes. Because they are embarrassed. It's not a good look publicly. And the impression given is that the publicity is the entire reason they are making this a deal.

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grand river fi…

August 18th, 2016 at 2:05 AM ^

Well, the impression of the Brazillian public is that their country is extremely corrupt and often let's privledged rich folks get away with anything.  I'd say this directly aimed at the public perception that Brazil doesn't hold the rich and powerful accountable.

 Idea of international perception sof internal Brazillian affairs is summarized in a great Brazillian cliche "para ingles ver".  Brazillians have long been fed up wiht their domestic politics being run for the perception of outsiders.

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WorldwideTJRob

August 17th, 2016 at 11:04 PM ^

But you don't know if they made a false report. We're talking Brazil here, they're not some world power like Russia who wouldn't mind stepping toe to toe with us if need be. They don't want to piss us off, which leads me to believe that these guys may have committed an offense there. Plus just look at the guys involved...they're all were trying to get the hell outta dodge as quickly as possible.



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Yeoman

August 17th, 2016 at 11:29 PM ^

Depends on the circumstances.

If it were suspected that a foreign national had filed a false report of a crime in an attempt to cover his involvement in prostitution or a drug deal--and that's one of the scenarios proposed as plausible here--you can be absolutely sure he'd be detained by authorities.

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WorldwideTJRob

August 17th, 2016 at 11:34 PM ^

As a guy who's been robbed at gunpoint, I truly sympathize for you it's not a good feeling and the scariest night of my life! But I highly doubt we would just say be off on your marry way. We would charge the guy if not for anything to make sure no one else pulled some silly shit like that again



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Rodriguesqe

August 17th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^

Detroiters should get it from Rio's perspective. They do everything they can to make the city safe, then some rich entitled brats make up some BS not realizing/caring that they're hurting their hosts. Pretty uncool.

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Rodriguesqe

August 17th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^

Nope - were you?. I personally don't believe Lochte's story. Seems like many or most don't. I don't know Brazilian law but I am assuming they have a legal right to detain these guys.

If I were a Brazilian I'd be hoping that they punish these guys to the full extent of the law if the accusations were made-up, and if they have an opportunity to clear this up they should do everything they can to do so.

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mgolund

August 18th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^

Lochte had a fucking point too. Yes, pun intended.

There sure are a lot of opinions as to what happened in a place really far away, involving at least one American and a country with a credibility problem. Productive stuff, here.

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Rodriguesqe

August 17th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^

I am sure they're not getting the Abu Ghraib treatment... If its a crime to file a false police report and they got them in the country why shouldn't they? It might be a misdemeanor and community service but if the authority are operating within the law and the swimmers weren't, why should I emphasize with the swimmers?

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schreibee

August 18th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^

Yes, in the same breath I'm saying pulling them off a flight over possible inconsistencies is an over-reach, an over-reaction, a Keystone Cops level screw up. If they thought they'd embarrass the athletes for embarrassing them, all they've done is given the story legs of steel. NOW it's gonna be a story people will not soon forget!

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Rodriguesqe

August 17th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

Olympics are a BILLIONS dollar bet. Cities have lost money for decades. There is a reason they desperately wanted all the good PR they could get. Thee games a 2 week commercial to the world advertising the city. A city with a reputation for crime. The swimmers' (likely) lies cost the city some serious money.  These guys are getting a slap on the wrist. The city is hoping they'll admit they made up the story. Of course, even if they do, the damage will already have been done.

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ESNY

August 18th, 2016 at 6:05 AM ^

They lost any chance at good PR when they had shit and viruses floating in their rivers, Olympic delegations refused to move into subpar buildings, athletes stuff was stolen during a fire alarm, when the pools turned green. I can go on. Their best hope for this was for it to fade away quickly but they are turning a one day story into a week long story. And now reports of another athlete getting robbed at gunpoint.

Brazil is a seriously fucked up country and all the lipstick in the world couldn't cover that shit up.



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