In media coverage in the run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, we heard mostly about the threat of the Zika virus, unfinished rail lines, political unrest and frightening crime statistics. But as the 2016 Olympics come to a close without any catastrophic events, we still hear almost nothing about the friendly locals or the vibrant energy of the city, which is a shame. When athletes arrived in Rio, they were both surprised by the lack of mosquitoes and reassured by the tight security. Everything seems to be going according to plan and, frankly, better than the world expected - there have been few reports of sewage infections and no buildings collapsing following the allegedly questionable and delayed construction of Olympic venues.
That was until swimmer Ryan Lochte reported that he and three other U.S. swimmers were robbed at gunpoint. This is a huge blow to Rio de Janeiro's reputation for crime and confirmation of a certain stereotype about Rio's criminal reputation. However, when officials began investigating, they discovered holes in Lochte's story. His reporting began to unravel, and now he and swimmer Jimmy Fagan could be prosecuted for reporting false crimes. Just as the Olympics were beginning to shake off the host country's troubled image, Lochte appeared to be using it to cover up his own apparent misconduct.
"I greatly exaggerated the story," Lochte told NBC's Matt Lauer on Saturday. "If I hadn't done this, we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in now...none of this would have happened. This was immature behavior on my part."
Needless to say, Brazilians were pissed. As an American who once lived in Rio, I'm angry too - but I'm not surprised.
Now that the 2016 Olympics are over, I hope people stop thinking that Brazil is either full of problems or full of parties. If the Olympics have shown the world anything, it's that Brazilians are up for the challenge.
In 2007, when I moved to Rio as a teenager, the story surrounding Brazil was the same. When my family announced we were moving, we were all wide-eyed and worried: Isn’t it dangerous there? I heard it's not very clean. Are you moving to a third world country? My mom was one of the skeptics because the move was for my dad's job. But when we took a short trip to Brazil before making our final decision, we were instantly hooked.
Living in any metropolitan area requires common sense. Don’t venture into certain areas at night. Avoid traveling alone on a delayed bus. Leave your gorgeous jewelry at home. Be aware of your surroundings.
But in the three years we've lived in Rio, we haven't had a serious problem with violent crime. One time a group of young street boys tried to grab my groceries, but that was more sad than anything. I've also been pickpocketed in a large group of people, mostly due to my own naiveté. Overall, though, I felt safe walking around as a girl in Rio. My father, a stocky white Texan, stood out in Brazil, but he didn't consider himself a "gringo."
But I’m well aware that I live a privileged life in Rio. I lived in an upscale neighborhood and attended a private school. I socialized with Brazil’s high society and went to “Posto 9” beach in Ipanema. But I also pass through Rio’s largest favela every day on my way to school. I took a taxi myself and stayed out much later than I should have. I often explored the city on my own and became fluent in my Portuguese. I fell in love with Brazil.
The people of Rio de Janeiro (known as "Cariocas") are some of the warmest, friendliest people you'll ever meet - just say a few Portuguese phrases and they'll be even more impressive. The food here—from Salgardinhos to Fejoada —is incredible. (Not to mention their most common drunken food is sushi.) Turn one way and you see mountains; Another, the ocean.
Of course, Brazil is much bigger than Rio, and although I've traveled all over the country, I've only scratched the surface. But what impressed me most about Brazilians, and what I will always remember, was their zest for life. Brazilians appreciate the beauty of everyday life around them – whether it’s the sound of the waves, the love of a family member or a soccer team’s goal. Try talking about Brazil and the locals will probably defend it. Now that I've lived there, I'll live there too.
Now that the 2016 Olympics are over, I hope others will stop thinking that Brazil is either full of problems or full of crazy parties. If the Olympics have shown the world anything, it's that Brazilians are up for the challenge. Despite the dramatic predictions, they showed hospitality and grace in the face of adversity, and their joy was contagious—something I experienced firsthand while I was there.
When Ryan Lochte fits into the common narrative about crime in Rio, he not only tarnishes the spirit of the Games, he insults an entire city that welcomes the world with open arms in two weeks. This proved to be exactly the case with the media fear-mongering ahead of the 2016 Olympics. What we should really do is give this beautiful and complex city a chance. Personally, I'm certainly glad I did.
Image: Alex Vickery
