American swimming star Ryan Lochte says he and three teammates were robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro.

The 32-year-old swimmer – who has won six gold medals during a glittering career – said the frightening incident occurred while he was in a taxi travelling to the Olympic Village.

“We got pulled over, in the taxi,” Lochte told the NBC.

“And these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing. Just a police badge and they pulled us over.

“They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers [in the taxi, who were Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen] to get down on the ground.

“They got down on the ground. I refused.

WATCH: Ryan Lochte recounts being robbed at gunpoint with his teammates in Rio. https://t.co/pXZNabPeFNhttps://t.co/62SlTOgoxP

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“I was like ‘we didn’t do anything wrong,’ so – I’m not getting down on the ground.

“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said: “Get down”.

“I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever’.

“He took our money, he took my wallet – he left my cell phone, he left my credentials.”

Despite the IOC initially denying the reports – which emanated from Australia’s Fox Sports News – the US Olympic Committee confirmed them.

“According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village,” USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said.

“Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes’ money and other personal belongings.

“All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities.”

Lochte with his sixth gold medal. Photo: Getty

Lochte won his sixth gold medal as part of the USA’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, and Olympic rookies Bentz and Conger were part of that squad.

Initial reports late on Sunday (AEST) said 32-year-old Lochte was on his way to a party at the invitation of Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira when the robbery occurred.

The reports said Lochte had his wallet stolen, but returned safe and unhurt back to the US team headquarters in Rio.

Lochte’s mother, Ileana, confirmed the robbery to USA Today and said her son was “shaken up”.

Lochte and relay teammates celebrate. Photo: Getty

Australia updates safety arrangements

Australia’s Olympic chef de mission Kitty Chiller has now insisted Australian athletes will have to travel in a vehicle between 6pm and 6am in Rio, even if it’s only for a few hundred metres, according to Sky News.

Chiller has also reportedly banned athletes from wearing team uniform when not in the Olympic Village and asked them to travel in groups of at least three.

“There’s been a lot of increased petty criminal, but criminal, activity on the actual beaches,” Chiller said.

Australia’s Olympians are not allowed to enter Copacabana or Ipanema Beach after dark, either.