No additional punishment from UGA for swimmer Gunnar Bentz
ATHENS — Olympic gold medalist Gunnar Bentz will receive no additional punishment from UGA for his behavior in the Rio Games, a Georgia spokesman confirmed Thursday.
USA Swimming announced Thursday that Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen have been suspended four months for their behavior during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They are alleged to have been involved in an incident in which a gas station bathroom was vandalized.
Ryan Lochte — who is alleged to have committed the actual act and then created an international controversy by lying about it — was suspended for 10 months. Lochte also has been banned from the 2017 world swimming championships, USA Swimming announced Thursday.
UGA officials said neither Bentz, a junior from Atlanta, nor head coach Jack Bauerle, would be available for comment. However, Bentz did send out a message via his Twitter account.
I have learned a lot throughout this experience and look forward to a great season with my UGA teammates! pic.twitter.com/MzU0ht6Ffn
— Gunnar Bentz (@TheGunnyBunny) September 8, 2016
The whole episode made for a disappointing end to what had previously been a remarkable Olympic experience for Bentz. The 6-foot-5, multi-stroke specialist came out of nowhere to make the U.S. team as a relay alternate after a top-six finish at the Olympic Trials.
In Rio, Bentz did not swim in the final but qualified for a gold medal because of his participation in the preliminary rounds on the 4×200-meyer freestyle relay team.
Bentz, 20, attended St. Pius X Catholic School in DeKalb County and is the son of Steve and Missy Bentz of Atlanta. He is majoring in business at UGA.
