An Iranian cyclist died Saturday from an injury sustained during a road race at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Sunday’s race was Golbarnezhad’s second event at the Rio Games, after he competed Wednesday in the C4 time trial, finishing 14th.
Iran’s Paralympic Committee says 48-year-old Bahman Golbarnezhad died after receiving treatment at the roadside and being rushed to hospital. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most honest condolences”.
“He unfortunately passed away”, International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence told AFP. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran”.
Following Golbarnezhad’s passing the Iranian Flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village.
An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.
While event organisers didn’t include the Vista Chinesa circuit, where the likes of Vincenzo Nibali and Annemiek van Vleuten suffered horrific crashes during the Summer Olympics, the course remained a hard one, as evidenced by several crashes during the time trials.
He was born in the Iranian city of Shiraz and made his Paralympic debut in London, when he finished 24th in the road race.
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Golbarnezhad also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012.
