Rio Olympics: USA swimming gold medallist Ryan Lochte robbed by armed men, USOC say

Ryan Lochte and three other American swimmers were robbed by armed men who stopped their taxi in Rio, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) have said.

USOC spokesman, Patrick Sandusky, said Lochte along with swim team-mates Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen were robbed in the early hours of Sunday morning after leaving a party at the French Olympic team's hospitality house.

Sandusky said: "The taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings."

He added the four swimmers are safe and co-operating with authorities.

Initial reports claimed two-time World Swimmer of the Year Lochte - who was part of the US 4x200m team that won the freestyle relay earlier this week - was held up at gunpoint at a party in Rio that he had been invited to by a Brazilian swimmer.

Lochte, 32, has won a total of 12 Olympic medals in his career including six golds.