It’s bad enough that an athlete representing the United States should vandalize and act like a jerk in another country. But Ryan Lochte himself shouldn’t have made things worse.
Maybe he was encouraged by the people who were urging everyone to “give him a break,” because the swim team were “just kids” doing “mischief.” KIDS? At their age? MISCHIEF? Destroying and urinating on other people’s property?
Ryan hasn’t actually apologized to Brazil yet. His explanations relate to himself, not to others: “I should have been more careful” – “I made a mistake. – “I learned a lesson.” He admits to immature behavior and “over-exaggerating” the facts. And his excuse is that he was drunk.
But there’s no apology to the Brazilians–or to the American people, whom he disgraced.
Come on, Ryan. You’re 32. Grow up. And man up.