Iran’s Para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad dies after crash in Rio race

Iranian Para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad has died following a crash during the men’s C4/C5 Rio Paralympics road race.

According to a statement by the organizers of the event, the crash happened at around 10:40 am local time while he was going down a steep hill on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course.

The 48-year-old Iranian champion received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was then taken to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival.

A statement by the Iranian Paralympic Committee read, "It is difficult for us to announce this sad news but, with immense regret, we have to say Bahman Golbarnezhad, Iranian cycling champion, has died after an accident while racing in competition in the 2016 Paralympics. He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this."

"All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics," it added.

Sir Philip Carven, the International Paralympic Committee president, said, “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio.”

And Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman said, “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran.”

Following Golbarnezhad‘s passing, the Iranian Flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village. The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and at the Rio Centro venue where Iran will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sitting volleyball gold medal match on Sunday. During the closing ceremony of the event,  a moment of silence will also be held.

This was Golbarnezhad’s second race at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. He took part in the time trial C4 race on Wednesday and finished 14th.

The Iranian athlete also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012 and 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.

An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has also been launched. Golbarnezhad's death is the first in-competition fatality at a summer/winter Olympics or Paralympics since the death of Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen in the 100-kilometer team time trial at the 1960 Rome Games.

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