Team GB Paralympics star and wife mugged in Rio de Janeiro with passports and medals stolen in shocking attack
TEAM GB Paralympians Neil Fachie and wife Lora were mugged at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Brazil on Wednesday.
Paralympic gold medallists Neil, 40, and Lora, 35, were competing together for the first time in Rio this week.
But Neil has now taken to social media to reveal the shocking ordeal they were the victims of as they had their passports, cards, cash and medals stolen.
Speaking on X, he said: “We were mugged tonight in Rio, so sadly I’m not contactable by phone for a little while. We’re all okay, other than being shaken up.
“Passports, cards, some cash and our silver medals were all stolen. A sad way to end the day.”
Cyclists Neil and Lora, who are both OBEs, have brought their son Fraser, 1, with them to Rio.
But Neil’s tweet has alleviated any concerns they were physically hurt in the incident.
Neil, who suffers from an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, has won 19 world titles, two Paralympic gold medals and two silver.
He followed up his Paralympic triumph in London with another in Rio – while his two silvers also came in the Brazilian capital.
He is scheduled to defend his tandem B kilo and tandem B sprint world titles later this week.
Lora, who has hereditary sight loss condition which means she only has light perception, won gold and bronze medals at Rio 2016.
She then claimed another gold in Tokyo three years ago.
Earlier this week, Lora, who gave birth in November 2022, spoke about juggling parenthood with cycling.
Speaking to BBC Sport, she said: “Pushing your body to the limit in training is hard and painful, but you are the one in control.
“As a parent, you aren’t necessarily in control and babies don’t come with a manual so you are constantly having to adjust and reassess and change plans.
“I was an athlete who likes a plan and sticks to it and I am quite a logical thinker and babies don’t do that, so it tests you, especially in the early days.”