Belgische Profi-Triathletin Sofie Goos beim Training mit Messer attackiert

Sofie Goos (36), eine belgische Triathletin auf der Ironman-Distanz ist beim Intervalltraining im Park Spoor Noord von Antwerpen mit einem Messer attackiert und schwer verletzt worden. Goos vereint 7 Siege bei Ironman- und 70.3-Veranstaltungen in ihren Palmarès. Ihre Saisonplanung sah am 21. Mai 2015 einen Start beim prestigeträchtigen Ironman Lanzarote vor.

Sofie Goos befindet sich derzeit noch auf der Intensivstation. Photo: Bert Stephanie BMC-Etixx Pro Triathlon Team powered by Uplace 

Die belgische Triathletin ist am Sonntag, den 15. Mai 2016 von einem ihr unbekannten Mann beim Intervalltraining attackiert worden. Der 26 Jahre alte Angreifer Samir T. mit Migrationshintergrund aus Nordafrika und langjährigem Wohnsitz aus Antwerpen sprang um kurz vor 12:00 Uhr unvermittelt von einer Bank auf und versuchte Goos zu Fall zu bringen. Die zu Fuß auf einer Runde Intervalle absolvierende Profi-Athletin konnte den Angriff zunächst abwehren, fühlte dann jedoch einen Schmerz im unteren Rückenbereich. Der Täter wurde vorläufig wegen versuchten Mordes festgenommen und dem Untersuchungsrichter vorgeführt.

Sofie Goos berichtete auf  Facebook von der Messerattacke während des Intervalltrainings.

Bei dem Angriff ist Goos mit einem Messer in den unteren Rücken gestochen worden und an der rechten Niere verletzt worden. Trotz hohem Blutverlust und Schädigung der Nierenfunktion gehen die Ärzte des Krankenhaus Stuivenberg derzeit von einer vollständigen Genesung in etwa sechs Wochen aus, wovon 1 Woche auf Intensivstation notwendig wären. Das Mitglied des belgischen  BMC-Etixx Pro Triathlon Teams richtet in einer Nachricht auf Facebook einen Appell an das friedfertige Zusammenleben ohne Gewalt:

"Waarom kunnen we mekaar in deze wereld niet met liefde overvallen ipv met geweld..." (Warum kann man einander in dieser Welt nicht mit Liebe statt mit Gewalt überbieten...)

Belgische Medien spekulieren derzeit über eine mögliche psychische Erkrankung des Angreifers. Fragen zu Staatsbürgerschaft, einem Migrations- oder islamistischen Hintergrund des Tatverdächtigten wurden von den Ermittlungsbehörden noch nicht kommentiert, bzw. die Polizei in Belgien verweigerte mit Verweis auf die Gerichte eine schriftliche Auskunft. Der Fragenkatalog wurde im Nachgang der zuständigen Pressestelle des Gerichts übermittelt, eine Antwort steht noch aus:

Datum:  Mon, 16 May 2016 08:38:01
Von:  Politie Blauwe Lijn
An: ...

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1. Website Sofie Goos
2. Sofi Goos auf Twitter
3. Sofie Goos auf Facebook

Belgian professional triathlete Sofie Goos attacked with knife while training in public

Sofie Goos (36), a Belgian triathlete at the Ironman distance was attacked with a knife while doing interval training in Spoor Noord public park in Antwerp and was seriously injured. Goos' palmarès includes 7 victories at Ironman and 70.3 events. Her next race would have been prestigious Ironman Lanzarote on May 21st.

Sofie Goos is currently still in the ICU. Photo: Bert Stephanie for BMC-Etixx Pro Triathlon Team powered by Uplace 

The Belgian triathlete has been attacked on Sunday, May 15, 2016 from an to her unknown man while doing her interval training. Samir T,,  a 26-year-old native from North Africa living for several years in Antwerp jumped shortly before 12:00 abruptly from a bank and tried to bring Goos down. The top athlete, who was running a loop several times before, could thwart the attack first, then felt a pain in the lower back. The culprit was arrested provisionally for attempted murder. He was brought before the investigating judge.

Sofie Goos reported on her Facebook page on the knife attack during her interval training.

Goos has been stabbed in the lower back and has taken at least one hit into the right kidney. Despite high blood loss and damage to the kidney function, doctors at the hospital Stuivenberg are currently expecting a full recovery in about six weeks, of which 1 week ICU would be necessary. The member of the Belgian BMC-Etixx Pro Triathlon Team sent out a message on Facebook with an appeal on peaceful coexistence without violence:

"Waarom kunnen we mekaar in deze wereld niet met liefde overvallen ipv met geweld..." (Why can today in this world not outdo with love rather than violence ...)

Belgian media speculates about a potential mental illness of the attacker. Questions about citizenship, a migrant or Islamist background of the suspects were not commented on by the investigating authorities. The police in Belgium refused with reference to the courts any further written information. The questionnaire was sent to the press office of the court, a response is still pending:

Datum:  Mon, 16 May 2016 08:38:01
Von:  Politie Blauwe Lijn
An: ...

Beste
Wij mogen u via deze weg hierover geen info geven.
Indien u meer info wilt zult u die misschien bekomen op het gerechtshof. U kunt deze bereiken op  het nr 03.257.80.11. 

Met vriendelijke groet
De Blauwe Lijn
Informatie- en Communicatiecentrum
Lokale Politie Antwerpen
U kunt ook dag en nacht bellen naar het gratis nummer 0800 123 12. 

1. Website Sofie Goos
2. Sofie Goos on Twitter
3. Sofie Goos on Facebook

New York Times: "Olympians Shouldn’t Swim Through Sewage"

Lynne Cox wrote a nice opinion piece on water quality and safety of swimmers, triathletes and sailors    at Guanabara Bay and Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. One conclusion to avoid viral or bacterial infections could be a very bold move by organizers of 2016 Olympic Games and country of Brazil:

"The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has said that “the competition area for the athletes will offer safe and fair conditions.” It is the committee’s responsibility to ensure this is so. The aquatic events must be moved to safe, clean waters — and if that can’t be found in Brazil, they must be transferred to another country.

While there is no modern precedent for a binational Olympics, and the committee’s charter may forbid them, such a move may be the only solution, short of canceling these races. But that would shatter the dreams of athletes who have trained most of their lives to reach the Olympic Games. They deserve a chance to compete where the water won’t hurt them."

1. Olympians Shouldn’t Swim Through Sewage

IRONMAN announced changes to global competition rules to counter technical fraud (mechanical doping)

IRONMAN announced today, that it has strengthened its global competition rules to combat technological fraud (also known as mechanical fraud). As a leader in the endurance industry, IRONMAN is partnering with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to leverage the latest technology to combat the concealment of motors or other artificial accelerating devices by athletes looking to gain an unfair advantage.

Mechanical doping is already present at various levels of bicycle racing. Belgian female cyclocross rider Femke Van den Driessche has been banned for six years for mechanical doping form UCI races using a hidden motor adding some extra wattage. The ban is backdated to October 11, 2015, and she must also pay a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs. One commonly found setup is a seattube based motor and battery pack. Picture: vivax drive GmbH & Co KG

“Technological fraud is contrary to the spirit of IRONMAN and of fair play,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN. “Athletes who choose to gain advantage by such means undermine the trust and norms of our community, the tenet of fair competition, and the accomplishment of completing the entire race under one’s own power.”

IRONMAN will be actively inspecting bicycles at races around the world – including all Championship races. Inspections will primarily occur following the bike portion of the event, after athletes have transitioned to the run.

“The UCI is committed to eradicating technological fraud and will collaborate with IRONMAN on best practices to help keep the sport of triathlon fair,” added Mark Barfield UCI Technical Manager. The penalty for technological fraud will be disqualification from the relevant event and indefinite suspension from all IRONMAN events. To see the complete IRONMAN Global Competition rules, please visit: www.ironman.com/rules-and-regulations.aspx.