Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad has died following a crash in the men’s C4/C5 road race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Iran’s National Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee have confirmed.
Golbarnezhad from Shiraz was treated at the scene of the accident before being taken to a local hospital. He suffered a heart attack as he was being transferred to hospital and later died. He was 48 years old.
Iran’s NPC announced the tragic news before the IPC issued a statement.
The IPC statement read: “It is with deep sadness and regret that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirms the death of the Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad following an accident in this morning’s road race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
“Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash … on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course.
“The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
“The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival.”
The IPC statement added: “The athlete’s family who are in Iran was informed this afternoon and the Iranian team was brought together in the Athlete Village earlier this evening and told of the news.
“An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.”
The IPC said the Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the athletes’ village.
The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and at the Riocentro venue where Iran will soon play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sitting volleyball gold medal match.
A moment of silence will be held during Sunday night’s (Monday NZ time) closing ceremony.
Saturday’s (Sunday NZ time) race was won by Daniel Abraham of Holland, with Brazil’s Lauro Chaman second and Andrea Tarlao of Italy third.
The road races began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit incorporated in the Rio Olympic Games road races.
The Vista Chinesa circuit – which included a treacherous descent where Holland’s Annemiek van Vleuten crashed into the curb, sustaining heavy concussion – was not part of the Paralympic course.
Golbarnezhad was 14th in the time-trial on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time) and also competed at the London 2012 Paralympics. He was Iran’s sole cyclist at the Rio Games.
We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad’s passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran.