RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – US swimmer Ryan Lochte took to

“> Instagram Friday to issue an apology for his behavior and “not being more careful or candid” in how he described events.

It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country – with a language barrier – and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to let you leave, but regardless of the behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors and the hosts of this great event.

Lochte said in a lengthy post on Instagram Friday that he was apologizing for his role in taking the focus away from other Olympic athletes.

The 12-time gold medalist reiterated his view that a stranger pointed a gun at him and demanded money to let him leave.

But Lochte says he should have handled himself more responsibly.

Brazil police have said Lochte lied by saying he and three other swimmers were robbed. They vandalized a gas station bathroom and were confronted by security guards.