OLYMPIC champion Logan Martin has been the victim of an alleged smash and grab robbery in Belgium.
It comes just days before Martin looks to defend his BMX gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Logan Martin has revealed how his team van was robbed just days before the Olympics[/caption] A video shared to social media showed a smashed passenger seat window[/caption] Glass could be seen shattered on the floor[/caption] While the inside of the van had been visibly ransacked[/caption]Martin revealed thieves had targeted his team’s van on Tuesday night and shared a video to Instagram on Wednesday revealing the aftermath of the attack.
It showed that the passenger seat window had been smashed in order to get into the vehicle, with shattered glass all over the floor.
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.
The BMX Park event is being held over the course of two days, with qualification for men and women being on July 30 and the finals for both being on July 31.
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.
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“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.
The opening ceremony for the Paris Games begins on Friday, though some sports such as a football and rugby sevens begin their events today.
Archery and handball also begin their tournaments ahead of the showdown, with tomorrow being the start date.
Team GB has also been hit by scandal days before the Olympics after a sickening video surfaced showing six-time Olympic medal winner Charlotte Dujardin appearing to whip a horse.
Martin and his team managed to find their belongings in a local park thanks to some bag tags they could track[/caption] Martin won gold at the Tokyo Olympics[/caption]BBC's Olympics line-up in full
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