Olympic champion has van broken into in horror smash and grab just days before Paris 2024 kicks off

5 months ago 52

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.

Instagram @loganmartinbmx
Logan Martin has revealed how his team van was robbed just days before the Olympics[/caption]
Instagram @loganmartinbmx
A video shared to social media showed a smashed passenger seat window[/caption]
Instagram @loganmartinbmx
Glass could be seen shattered on the floor[/caption]
Instagram @loganmartinbmx
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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Today, two sporting events begin at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Football and rugby sevens group stage matches start two days before the official curtain raiser to allow players enough time between games.

Argentina, Spain, France and the United States are among the big hitters in action in the football.

Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.

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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.

Instagram @loganmartinbmx
Martin and his team managed to find their belongings in a local park thanks to some bag tags they could track[/caption]
Getty
Martin won gold at the Tokyo Olympics[/caption]

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
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