The Australian Olympic Committee has called for more security in Rio after a paralympian and her physiotherapist were robbed at gunpoint on Sunday.
“The RIO organizers need to introduce the extra security precautions as soon as possible before an athlete gets hurt. We have written to them today asking them to address this issue,” said Kitty Chiller, Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team.
Paralympian Liesl Tesch was riding a bicycle along with physiotherapist Sarah Ross in a Rio park when two men, one brandishing a gun asked them for money. When the women said they had none the men allegedly pushed them to the ground and stole their bicycles.
Tesch, 47, is a highly decorated paralympian who has competed in wheelchair basketball and sailing.
Crime has been on the rise in Rio - earlier this month, a Brazilian competitive shooter just shy of making the Olympic team was shot in the head in an armed robbery.
The Australian Olympic committee statement said “This is not an isolated incident, athletes have been mugged while training or competing in Rio Test events and we want our athletes protected."
The Rio Organizing Committee has promised an increased security presence ahead of the Olympic games which will begin August 5th, and the force will remain active for the Paralympics beginning September 7th.
