Thieves in Brisbane have stolen Olympic, Commonwealth and world championship medals belonging to pole vault star Tatiana Grigorieva.
Police said today the irreplaceable sentimental items'' were stored in a safe which was stolen from a business premises located at Tingalpa in Brisbane's east. The premises were broken into on July 18. The Sydney Olympic silver medallist and model also lost an Australian flag bearing autographs of the entire Australian Sydney 2000 Olympic games team. Police said Ms Grigorieva, currently competing in Stockholm, was deeply distressed’’ by the loss.
The 2002 Commonwealth champion and 1999 world championship bronze medallist has appealed to anyone knowing the whereabouts of the medals or having knowledge of the theft to contact police.
Police said the medals are easily recognisable, including both the details of the event and host country.
Gold Coast-based Ms Grigorieva, 30, has told police she is willing to accept the return of the items through a third party.
``Her management is prepared to act as intermediaries in any proposed return of the items,’’ a police spokesman said.
Currently ranked 14th in the world, Ms Grigorieva has been in top form in Europe.
At a Golden League meet in Paris last weekend, she recorded a season best 4.51m to finish fifth behind Russian world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva.
That’s right, Rupert!
August 1, 2006 - 4:02PM
Australian pole vaulter Tatiana Grigorieva is over the moon that her Olympic silver medal is among her stolen sporting mementoes so far recovered.
Grigorieva’s sporting treasure trove was stored in a safe stolen from a close friend’s business premises at Tingalpa, in Brisbane’s east, on July 18.
Police said today they had found several of the items following the execution of a search warrant in the Wynnum area on Brisbane’s bayside.
Grigorieva’s Sydney Olympic silver medal and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games gold medal were among the items recovered.
Police said other sentimental items including medals and an Australian flag bearing autographs of the entire Australian 2000 Sydney Olympic Games team were still to be recovered.
“I’m really pleased that they’ve been found, particularly the ones that are most important to me,” the glamour athlete and model - now competing in Europe - said in a statement.
“Thanks to the police for all their efforts.”
Former Hockeyroos captain Katrina Powell suffered the same fate as Grigorieva when her sporting mementoes, including two Olympic gold medals, were stolen in a break-in at her Perth home last week.
But Powell, now a Hockeyroos assistant coach, said today she had not recovered any of her belongings, which also included jewellery.
“I’m still holding out hope that they’re not bad people and the items are returned,” she said from Perth.
The Australian Olympic Committee had offered to replace Grigorieva’s Sydney 2000 medal if it was not recovered.
AOC spokesman Mike Tancred said if Powell’s medals were not found the AOC would work with the International Olympic Committee, which has replica moulds, to replace them.
“We’re thrilled for Tatiana because the medals were precious to her and we’ll keep our fingers crossed for Trinny [Powell],” Tancred said.
“We appeal to those who stole her medals to hand them back.”
Police are still seeking to locate a man seen on previously released security vision of the Tingalpa break-in, whom they say might be able to assist them with their inquiries.
Among Grigorieva’s items still to be recovered are a silver medal from the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and bronze medals from the 1999 Seville world championships and 1998 Goodwill Games in New York.
AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/tatiana-gets-her-medals-back/2006/08/01/1154198125558.html