Ryan Lochte 'robbery' becomes international incident after three U.S. swimmers are detained in Rio

Two of the USA Olympic swimmers who were with Ryan Lochte when he was reportedly ‘robbed’ in Rio Sunday night were escorted off a plane and prevented from leaving the country by Brazilian authorities.

Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were in their seats aboard United Airlines flight 128 to Houston at Rio's Galeao International Airport when police came for them — turning a dubious incident into a full blown international one.

The dramatic turn of events came amid mounting questions over whether the gold medal-winning swimmer really was held up at gunpoint by men with police badges as Lochte claims — and why he changed his original version of the story over the weekend for a second time.

Describing the experience as "frightening" the 21-year-old Conger and 20-year-old Bentz had their passports seized and cannot leave Brazil until they provide official sworn testimony about their alleged mugging at gunpoint along with Lochte and fourth teammate, Jimmy Feigen — who has been ordered to remain in Brazil.

Lochte won't have the same problems since he has been spotted in in Charlotte, North Carolina with his Playmate girlfriend Kayla Reid.

Brazilian authorities have turned up the heat on the swimmers after questions about the athletes' timetables and circumstances surrounding their stories didn't add up.

The diplomatic gloves really came off when surveillance video of the athletes returning to the Olympic Village the night in question showed little details like the men still wearing their watches and Lochte holding what looks like his wallet:

Upon leaving police custody early on Thursday morning, Conger and Bentz refused to answer questions about what happened.

On Sunday, Lochte told Billy Bush on NBC's Today Show that "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. 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 cellphone, he left my credentials."

Things escalated after Lochte called his mom and told her he had been robbed. Then she, of course, went to the press. The 32-year-old swimmer claims he didn't go to the USOC with his story at first because "We were afraid we'd get in trouble."

And mommy knows best.

Pictured: Shaken Ryan Lochte after gunpoint robbery at #Rio2016 https://t.co/d4q6PCcJx6 pic.twitter.com/RLfttzs5D7

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 16, 2016

Attorney Sergio Viegas says Conger and Bentz did not testify and left police custody Thursday morning for an unspecified location in Brazil. Both men refused to answer questions about what could possibly be the most convoluted night out since the "The Hangover."

But, according to the USOC, Feigen "intends to make further statements regarding the incident on Thursday."

"There was a confusion, they are very scared by this," said Viegas. "They didn't understand what was happening or why they couldn't embark."

So while Conger and Bentz try and dog-paddle their way out of Rio, Lochte is freestyling it back home with his girl.

Ryan Lochte belly-flops as Fashion Week correspondent

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte loves to be in front of the camera but — after the the 11-time medalist was already hired to appear on E! News as a fashion correspondent this week — he found out how hard it was to be behind one.

Lochte was hired by E! News to cover New York Fashion Week and, even before the starting gun sound went off, producers were saying the gold medalist would be lucky to get a silver for his reporting skills.

E! network executives are privately complaining that Lochte — who came off flat in his Olympic interviews — is even worse at doing the interviews.

It sounds like the splash E! News was hoping to create could turn into a colossal belly-flop.

"E! is regretting the decision.  Even after media training, he's still not sharp," an insider, who added producers are frustrated, told Page Six of The New York Post.  An E! rep called the claim "inaccurate."

The diamond-grilled swimmer had been booked to appear last night, tonight and Monday on E! News and was been spotted Wednesday, sitting front-row at Joseph Abboud and attending parties.  Lochte mingled with other E! News camera-hogs like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum.

Lochte said he was working on his own clothing line and filming a "30 Rock" episode while he was in New York, but hadn't practiced any lines.

In his client's defense, Lochte's rep said, "I believe under the circumstances he has has done a great job.  Ryan does not purport to be the best speaker or the best interview.  But each time he gets more experience and becomes more at ease."

Lochte is finding out there are a lot of sharks swimming in the reporter's pool.

Ryan Lochte dives into dating pool with Miss USA Olivia Culpo

Ryan Lochte won't get a chance to test the waters on "The Bachelor" but just might have gotten relationship gold anyway in the form of Miss USA Olivia Culpo.

The Olympic swimmer — who has been making the rounds in Manhattan during Fashion Week — may have just landed his biggest prize yet in the form of the stunning beauty pageant winner.

It might be more than just a coincidence they both like to strut around in their bathing suits and look good doing it.  Talk about a match made in reality show heaven.

"Things are still very new, because they just met, and they obviously aren't exclusive," said an insider but they "definitely like each other."

Lochte and Culpo met Wednesday night at the Four Seasons restaurant, where shoe designer Brain Atwood was hosting a party.

"Everyone was trying to get a piece of Ryan at the party, but he spent a chunk of his time talking to Olivia," said another source who said Lochte invited Culpo to his "Guys Fashion's Night Out" event last Thursday, but Culpo was already booked, so they reunited at the Sherri Hill show Friday.

At that gathering, Lochte posed for pictures with Culpo and the Miss Universe organizer Donald Trump. It sounds like The Donald approves of the pairing.

"He's got a lot of medals like you," he told Culpo —the former Miss Rhode Island.

According to what Lochte told The New York Daily News, the 20-year old Culpo is exactly his type.

"For the past four years, my face has been down staring at a pool," said the 28-year old Lochte.  "She's definitely got to be pretty ... she has to hold her own.  I don't want her to always have to be coming to me for everything.  I want her to be really independent."

Jeah.  And she has to be smoking hot too.

A spokeswoman for Lochte threw some cold water on the relationship.

"It's too early to say they're dating," she said.  "They get along well and they've been to a couple of events, but to my knowledge, they're not dating."

Culpo isn't denying anything though.

"We just met last week, so I can't say anything for that, but he's a good guy," she said Monday night at the Eric Trump Foundation Golf Invitational.

Did I mention they are both comfortable walking around in bathing suits?

Ryan Lochte admits to peeing in the pool

It might be best to avoid the pool after swimmer Ryan Lochte has been paddling around in it.  The American Olympic swimmer, who has won five medals at the London Games, has admitted to urinating in the pool.

"Not during the the Olympic races," the swimmer told U.S. broadcaster Ryan Seacrest.  "But I sure did in warmups."

Everyone said he was a whiz in the water.

Asked by Seacrest, during a live radio broadcast, if he ever "went" in the pool, the glib Lochte laughed, "Of course, we all do."

Why does the 27-year old Lochte do it?

"I think there's just something about getting into the chlorine that you just automatically go."

I don't think we're going to be seeing to many swimmers take their pre-game sips from the water anymore— especially when they see Lochte aimlessly floating around the pool with a relieved grin on his face.

It's unclear what made Lochte admit in public to taking a leak while wearing his Speedos but— after his mother told the world her son is a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am type of guy— all I have to say is TMI from this family.

Michael Phelps loses to Ryan Lochte in first comeback meet

Michael Phelps' first competitive dip into the pool after retiring might have been a second-place effort — but it still had all the splash that only the 22-time Olympic medalist can make.

Since Phelps entertained thoughts of defending his Olympic titles in Brazil, there was the matter of qualifying for the national championships in Southern California in August.

On Thursday night,  Phelps lost his first race to Ryan Lochte in the 100-meter butterfly final at the Arena Grand Prix.

It was Phelps’s first race in 628 days — since his butterfly leg in the gold-medal-winning 4x100 medley relay at the London Olympics in 2012 — and it attracted a sellout crowd of 1,200 Thursday at the Skyline Aquatic Center.

Lochte touched first in 51.93 seconds, second-fastest in the world this year. Phelps took second in 52.13 in his first meet since retiring after the London Games.

"I swam a final again," a smiling Phelps said later. "I said I wanted to be around 52.0 and I would be completely happy with that."

He is the three-time Olympic champion and current world record-holder in the event. His time tied for fourth-quickest in the world.

"It's one meet; it's one race," Phelps said. "It's a long way whether I decide to continue or not."

Phelps was faster in the final than he was while winning his preliminary heat with a time of 52.84.

Swimming before packed stands and lots of media, Lochte led at the turn and Phelps was second.

"Down there at the turn I kind of peeked over and I saw him and almost started smiling," Lochte said about his longtime friend and rival.

Phelps interjected, "Why? Because you were ahead?"

Next up for Phelps is the 50 freestyle on Friday, when he will swim the prelims doing the butterfly stroke for training.

Miss Universe Olivia Culpo denies romance with Ryan Lochte

Miss Universe Olivia Culpo threw some cold water on the rumors of a romance heating up between her and Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.

Culpo, the beauty who took the Miss Universe crown last month, told "Extra" host Maria Menounos that she was going to "just go with the flow" and sounded like the only thing that the two share right now is an affinity for bathing suits.

"Rumors are rumors," she told the entertainment show host from Times Square.  "At the end of the day, we're just friends. I'm happy with that."

Lochte, who has tested the waters as an gossip show reporter and sitcom actor since winning Olympic gold, has been linked to  Culpo since he met the auburn-haired Miss Rhode Island at at a Manhattan party during Fashion week in September. He even made a splash back then with the pageant owner Donald Trump who said they made a nice pairing.

Too bad Culpo, who is single and looking to date, isn't as fired up about Lochte as she is about the pageant's head honcho.

"Mr. Trump is an amazing person . . . I think I have the best boss."

You're hired.

Ryan Lochte calls 'SNL' parody of him 'pretty harsh'

Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte's response to the impersonation of him on a "Saturday Night Live" skit as a bubble-headed athlete was that it was "pretty harsh."  The laid back swimmer added that being impersonated by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane during Seth Meyers "Weekend Update" was also "pretty cool."

MacFarlane, wearing a red olympic-style sports jersey and gold and silver medals, portrayed Lochte being interviewed by Meyers and mispronouncing the names of new NBC shows on the fall schedule.

He calls one show "Monkey Hospital" instead of "Animal Practice" and says, "It's a show about a monkey in a hospital.  It's so funny!"  he gives the show three swims but holds up two fingers.

Later, he mispronounces Matthew Perry's new comedy series "Go On" as "Goon."  After Meyers corrects MacFarlane's character, he pronounces "good' as "go-od."

Lochte told the Website Celebuzz, "Well, I gotta admit that was a pretty harsh one, but it's cool to have Seth parody me.  I think he pegged me wrong."

The swimmer — who has an upcoming cameo on NBC's "30 Rock" — added," It's all in fun, and of course, if I'm talked about on 'SNL,' I know they are gonna get me 'go-od.'"

Victor Cruz hoping to score a reality TV series before season starts

It sounds like Victor Cruz is doing more than just having contract discussions with the New York Giants these days.  The fleet-footed wideout — known as much for his end-zone salsa celebrations as he is for his pass routes — claims he is in talks to land his own reality television series as well.

Cruz told The New York Daily News he's discussing a project with TV executives and said the reality show would be tightly focused on him.

"It is going to be something that is very unique to me and very unique to what I like, and like to do," said the 26-year-old Cruz.

"We are still fielding some requests, so we will see how it goes — the timing has to be right, and I have got to squeeze in some training in there before the season starts," he said.

Cruz said that watching NBA star Kris Humphries get into an ill-fated marriage with Kim Kardashian on her reality show was terrible — and he wants none of that. 

"I definitely want it to be my show," he said. "My own thing, something that I can contribute to and something I like to do, I can be comfortable with, and an easy show, something people like to watch and that people can be in tune with on a daily basis."

Cruz — who is still in talks with the Giants about returning next season —said he’d like to base the show in New York.

But his top priority, he insists, is to help deliver another Super Bowl victory to Big Blue fans.

“We understand the Super Bowl is in New York City, and that is motivation for us ... we have got to be ready to go," he said.

Cruz has already turned down a chance to appear on "Dancing With The Stars" —at least at this stage of his football career — but the popular player can be seen in numerous TV commercials.

If the NFL star does book his Keeping Up With The Cruz TV gig, he'll join the ranks of such athlete/reality star luminaries as swimmer Ryan Lochte, NFL reciever Terrell Owens, wrestler Hulk Hogan and NBA player Lamar Odom.

Hopefully, Cruz won't become the next Bruce Jenner — that pinnacle of reality show ridicule.