OLYMPIC sailing champion Fernando Echavarri admits he was fortunate to escape with his life after being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro as he and two Spanish team-mates walked to breakfast.
Echavarri, speaking at the Games sailing venue, Guanabara Bay, said: “We were a bit naive, a bit too daring and we are lucky to have survived.
“We were too confident, and being confident in Rio is not a good thing.”
Echavarri’s terrifying ordeal saw five young men, who he said were “not more than 16 years old” — poke pistol barrels into the Spaniards’ ribs and chests.
The 2008 Olympic champion said they handed over their mobile phones and other minor electronic gear, satisfying their assailants who ran off.
The Spaniards, who have been training in Rio for almost two weeks, were staying in Santa Teresa, a hilltop neighbourhood popular with tourists and a 20-minute walk downhill to the sailing venue.
Echavarri said: “We made a big mistake.
“We should have caught a taxi, taken a car and avoided a thing like this. We have to be careful, but the city needs more policing.”
But this was not the first time Echavarri has found himself in trouble in Rio.
He was also robbed at knife point in 2009 in the Copacabana Beach neighbourhood while competing in the Volvo Ocean race.
Echavarri called that situation “controlled” with experienced thieves who knew what they wanted. This time was different.
He said: “This was a completely uncontrolled situation.
“I think they were nervous and on drugs. They were really small guys. They were kids.”
Street violence is endemic in Rio, a city separated by the wealthy — who live in the south and west of the city — and the poor who live in hilltop slums.
Echavarri added: “There should be no problem here, but if at some moment you go wrong… you wind up with a big problem.”
About 85,000 soldiers and police will guard the city during the Olympics, twice as many as London four years ago.
Leave a comment