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In a statement on the website of an Austin, Texas, law firm,
Feigen said he failed to tell police that the swimmers had
urinated behind a building or that teammate Ryan Lochte had torn
a metal-framed advertising poster from a wall.
"I realize that I made a mistake by omitting these facts. I was
trying to protect my teammates and for this I apologize," said
Feigen, 26.
Initial claims by the Olympians that they were robbed at
gunpoint had embarrassed Brazil, which suffered a series of
assaults against visiting government ministers, athletes and
tourists, until local police accused Lochte, 32, of making up
the story to cover up vandalizing a gas station.
Lochte said in an interview on Brazil's Globo TV on Saturday
that he was sorry for exaggerating but that he did not lie.
Feigen said a man at the gas station pointed a gun at him, and
that he was unsure at the time if the gunman was affiliated with
the gas station. He and swimmer Gunnar Bentz gave the man money,
he said.
"This was the first time I have ever had a gun pointed at me and
I was terrified," he said.
Brazilian authorities returned Feigen's passport and allowed him
to leave the country after he paid a 35,000 reais ($11,000)
fine.
Feigen said he arrived home late on Saturday, and he praised the
people of Rio "for their hospitality in hosting these games."
"I have nothing but respect for the city in undertaking the
massive responsibility of hosting the Olympics and I feel their
performance was exemplary," he said.
(Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by Meredith
Mazzilli)
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