Olympic champion has van broken into in horror smash and grab just days before Paris 2024 kicks off
OLYMPIC champion Logan Martin has been the victim of a smash and grab robbery in Belgium.
It comes just days before Martin looks to defend his BMX gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Martin revealed thieves had targeted his team’s van on Tuesday night and shared a video to Instagram revealing the aftermath of the attack.
It showed that the passenger seat window had been smashed in order to get into the vehicle.
He revealed how his wallet and backpack were missing, while the team physiotherapists’ massage table had also been lifted.
The 30-year-old said it was lucky his bikes were also not in there.
He said it was a “crazy start to the trip”, before he added it was “unfortunate when people feel the need to do things like this”.
Fortunately, the Australian and his team were able to locate their belongings thanks to bag tag tracking devices.
They eventually found their stuff strewn across the floor at a nearby park, to which he said: “Thank god for bag tags.”
In a case of gallows humour, a team member also remarked how the thieves had “ate your choccies”.
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Martin claimed gold in front of a Covid-enforced empty crowd in Tokyo three years ago.
However, this time he will be cheered on by wife Kimberley and two children, five-year-old Noah and two-year-old Luna.
Team Australia‘s chef de mission Anna Meares has urged athletes not to wear their uniforms in public outside of competition and to travel in numbers amid security concerns.
She said: “We’re in one of the biggest cities in the world, and crime is, unfortunately not void in city life and life in general – doesn’t matter what city you’re in.
“And so we’re just encouraging people to have their wits about them, the common sense.”
It comes after two members of staff from the media outlet Nine were allegedly attacked in a suspected robbery in Paris.
BBC's Olympics line-up in full
Presenters:
- Clare Balding
- Gabby Logan
- Hazel Irvine
- Isa Guha
- Jeanette Kwakye
- JJ Chalmers
- Mark Chapman
Studio guests:
- Beth Tweddle
- Chris Hoy
- Denise Lewis
- Fred Sirieix
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Kate Richardson-Walsh
- Katherine Grainger
- Laura Kenny
- Mark Foster
- Michael Johnson
- Nicola Adams
- Rebecca Adlington
- Tonia Couch
Radio:
- Adrian Chiles
- Eleanor Oldroyd
- Kelly Cates
- Mark Chapman
- Naga Munchetty
- Tony Livesey