WELCOME TO RIO

Gold medalist Ryan Lochte and three other American Olympic swimmers get a real taste of Rio by being robbed at gunpoint

Rio de Janeiro may be known for its beautiful beaches, Sugar Loaf, Christ the Redeemer, and carnival time, but it is also a cesspool of violent crime. That is what gold medalist Ryan Lochte and three othe American Olympic swimmers learned the hard way early Sunday morning.

The foursome had attended a party at the Club France near Rio’s lagoon and were on their way back to the Olympic Village in a taxi. The taxi was stopped by a group of armed men posing as cops who relieved the swimmers of their cash and other valuables. They were not otherwise harmed.

Several Olympic athletes from other countries have also been robbed either at gunpoint or knifepoint, but Lochte and his three buddies were the first American athletes to be robbed in Rio.

I took three container ship cruises that stopped off in Rio. Whenever I wanted to go ashore, the ship’s captain would have the biggest crew member accompany me to act as my bodyguard, and that was during the daytime.

As you approach Rio by sea, you will see hundreds of high rise condos lining the beaches. But in the hillsides above the beaches there are the “favelas,” Rio’s gang infested slums. At sunset, droves of thugs descent from the favelas onto Copacabana Beach to rob any tourists dumb enough to remain there.

Several years ago, some friends advised me they were going on vacation to Rio. I warned them in no uncertain terms to leave Copa beach before the sun started to go down. Did they follow my advice? No! And so, they were robbed of their cash, their other valuables and their passports.

Welcome to Rio, but get your ass off the beach before sunset and don't wander around after dark!