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