It was on a warm, early Sunday morning when, under the influence of alcohol, Ryan Lochte and a few other U.S. Olympic swimmers of the United States decided to go to a gas station located near the Olympic village in Brazil. Something happened that day that would change Lochte’s and his companions’ lives forever. Every four years the world’s best athletes gather and compete against each other for bronze, silver, and gold medals. Until his bizarre event, Ryan Lochte, a four-time Olympian, had been a part of the winning men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, and was firmly established as a sports hero and role model.

Lochte had reported to the police that he and three of his teammates were held at gunpoint at a gas station in Rio. Lochte later apologized, saying he had “over-exaggerated” the story that he told the police. Surveillance video and witness testimony revealed that Lochte’s original story was false.

What had happened was that Lochte and the other swimmers had decided to stop in a gas station and urinated on the side of the building. They had also vandalized the gas station in other ways. A man who spoke English approached them and told them that the guards wanted them to pay for the damage they had caused.

Many things changed for Lochte after he accused innocent men of trying to rob him. Instead of being seen as a role model, he is now branded a liar. Lochte accused men from Brazil saying they were trying to rob him by taking his wallet, but the story was foggy because in his story he said they let him have his cell phone and credentials. He has apologized to many but there is still no excuse as to why he created the unnecessary commotion. He lost all four of his commercial sponsors as a result of his false claims: Speedo, Ralph Lauren, Airweave, and Gentle Hair Removal. His world has changed radically. His story proves that one should always think before speaking.