During the world championships in Rio de Janeiro, three members of the British para-cycling track team were victims of a mugging, which resulted in the theft of their silver medals and personal belongings.
Lora and Neil Fachie, who are two-time Paralympic gold medalists, and their pilot Corinne Hall escaped unscathed but deeply shaken after the occurrence, which took place as they were returning to their lodgings in the city of Brazil.
Neil Fachie shared on X: “Unfortunately, we were robbed tonight in Rio. As a result, I won’t be able to answer calls for some time. We’re all fine, but understandably shaken. Our passports, cards, some money, and our silver medals were taken. It’s a disappointing way to finish the day.”
The pair, who are married, earned silver medals with fellow cyclists Hall and Matt Rotherham in the tandem team sprint, placing second to Italy on Wednesday. British Cycling, whose team of 29 is participating in the competition, stated they are providing support to the impacted athletes and have brought up the issue with the appropriate authorities.
According to a statement from British Cycling, the trio of riders are in good condition and are receiving assistance from our team members, both on site and at their residences. We have also brought this issue to the attention of the UCI (international governing body for cycling), the local organizers, and the police.
Neil Fachie secured the top spot in the men’s tandem gold category at both the 2012 and 2020 Paralympic Games. Similarly, Lora Fachie clinched the individual pursuit titles in Rio and Tokyo, the latter with the help of teammate Hall. The couple, who both have visual impairments, dominated the competition by claiming gold medals and breaking world records within an hour of each other at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
Source: theguardian.com
