Nobody ever thinks about the possibility of getting beaten up on their ultimate day of triumph – neither did Dirk Van Tichelt. But this is exactly what happened to the Belgian competitor during the night hours this Monday following his first Olympic medal.
Dirk Van Tichelt Bear from Brecht won the 3rd place in upto 73 kg division but when he went to Copacabana Beach to celebrate things reportedly turned sour.
He got assaulted by a thief! He was struck in the face according to Yahoo sports. He was punched in the face by a thief who stole his training partner’s mobile phone.
The 32-year-old fighter was hit as he chased the thief down the popular beach, the Belgian Olympic Committee (BOC) said.
The thief has been widely reported as Brazilian – made out with the cellphone but short of a bronze medal. That allowed Van Tichelt to take this picture on the next day:
Van Tichelt over blauw oog: “Wilde verhalen zijn compleet uit de lucht gegrepen”https://t.co/6giPK3gQCi pic.twitter.com/6LqsWxgLJN
— sporza (@sporza) August 10, 2016
BOC communications director Luc Rampaer said: ‘His training partner’s phone was stolen and as Dirk ran after the thief, he was punched in the face by someone else.
‘The police were nearby so he made a formal complaint and then was seen by a doctor at the hospital as a precaution, although there was nothing serious.’
The Belgian Olympic Committee released a statement confirming Van Tichelt didn’t require treatment at the hospital. He appeared at a media event the next day with a black eye, and a smile on his face.
“Toen ik daarstraks mijn gsm aanzette leek het wel een casino.” @dirkvantichelt de day after. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/AKydHoVOPP
— Chris Picavet (@ChrisPicavet) August 9, 2016
The Belgian judo bronze medalist wants to draw a line under this matter, he told dhnet.be
“For me the incident is over, now I want to enjoy my new medal,” said the judoka Dirk Van Tichelt the microphone of the Flemish public broadcaster Sporza Tuesday night at the party held to celebrate his bronze medal in less than 73 kilos. “But it is a regrettable matter,” he agreed.
“The Games, it’s magic, and Rio is a beautiful city. It is in the interests not harm neither to one nor the other, I first said he received a blow to drive. for a judoka that does not seem unlikely and therefore my version seemed plausible. But now since we said everything and anything, I am forced to restore the truth. so I was walking on the beach Copacabana with my sparring parter (Matthias Casse, note) who was talking with a girl. He suddenly realized she had stolen his mobile phone and was pursued. But she took refuge in a hotel whose entrance was guarded. My friend tried to force the pass and then a fight broke out. Me, I’ve tried to separate everybody and that’s how I got a call from a security guard . I then went to the police to file a complaint. that’s all there is nothing to add. this is the truth … “
