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As It Happens

Gold medal Paralympian robbed in Rio at gunpoint

Shaken, but not discouraged. An Australian Paralympian was riding her bike in Rio de Janeiro when a group of men pushed a pistol into her chest and robbed her. But, despite the risks, Liesl Tesch will still compete.
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Australia's Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch during the penultimate round of the Paralympic Skud 2 person dinghy in England in 2012. (AP Photo/ David Jones/PA)
As It Happens6:47Gold medal paralympian robbed in Rio at gunpoint

An athlete robbed at gunpoint in Rio is warning athletes — and the friends and family coming to cheer them on at the Games — to be cautious in the Olympic host city.

"We were just heading back to our hotel and two guys jumped out from behind a bus stop and one of them had a gun," Paralympian Liesl Tesch tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

Military police officers search for drugs and weapons at the Roquette Pinto shantytown, part of the Mare slum complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Felipe Dana/AP)

"He said something, I think it was 'dinero,' and so I lifted up my shirt to show him I didn't have any money."

The mugger shoved Tesch and a team official to the ground, grabbed the women's bicycles and fled into a nearby park.

Tesch is a six-time Paralympian who competes in wheelchair basketball and sailing.

The mugging took place at 7:30 a.m. and there were bystanders who did not intervene. "As you speak to the locals, you understand they don't want to put their lives at risk," says Tesch.

Soldiers train to provide security for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brasilia, Brazil. (Eraldo Peres/AP)

All athletes are briefed by their teams on safety, including areas of Rio to avoid. But Tesch says the duo were coming home along a main road in the middle of the day with a fun run happening less than 50 meters away.

"I think it's an important message to get out there that we all have to look out for each other," says Tesch.

Tesch is quick to point out that authorities are bringing in 100,000 military personnel to enhance security for the Olympics and Paralympics. But, in light of the recent spate of violence in the city, including attacks on athletes, Australian Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller has put out a statement asking authorities to mobilize the force sooner.

Australia's Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller speaks to the press, after Australian Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and team official were robbed in Rio. (Jason Reed/REUTERS)

Tesch says she is no worse for wear and has returned home. She says every Games has hiccups leading up to the opening ceremony.

"I think it's going to be a risk, but the Games must go on. After training for four years, or for some of us a lot longer than four years, it's a risk we are prepared to take."

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