Australian weightlifter Francois Etoundi’s 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medal stolen from car outside Melbourne home
AUSTRALIAN weightlifter Francois Etoundi is “upset and angry” after his bronze medal was stolen from a car outside his home in Melbourne’s Waterways.
Leader
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WEIGHTLIFTER Francois Etoundi has had his Commonwealth Games bronze medal stolen.
Etoundi, 33, who spectacularly pushed on through a torn bicep to claim third in the men’s 77kg division at the Gold Coast in April, saidhe was “very upset and angry”.
The precious medal was stolen from his car parked outside his Waterways home in Melbourne’s southeast.
Etoundi said he can’t fathom how somebody could take his medal after he’s “competed for the country with honour and heart”.
“I’ve worked hard and overcome injury to get a medal ... I don’t have any words,” an emotional Etoundi told Leader.
Etoundi, who still has his arm in a sling, and is waiting to have surgery, had parked his 2003 Mercedes-Benz sedan outside his Dresden Dr home after training and visiting the doctor on Thursday, May 17.
About 8am the following morning he returned to his car to find the doors open.
Moorabbin crime investigation unit detective Sergeant Mick Sewell said the thief broke into the car overnight and stole a sports bag containing the medal and certificate still in its box, an old Nokia phone and sunglasses.
He said there was no sign of forced entry but Etoundi was adamant he locked it.
“I just want my medal back,” Etoundi said. “It’s very symbolic for me.
“I don’t want to press charges.”
The Cameroon-born athlete successfully sought asylum in Australia after the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Injury forced him out of the Delhi 2010 Games and he won bronze in the same event in Glasgow 2014 before he was shamefully fined and sent home for headbutting a Welsh competitor in the athletes’ village just days later.
Etoundi said he hoped to be back in full training by late September to early October as he aimed to qualify for his first Olympics in Tokyo 2020.
Sgt Sewell said they had no witnesses and anyone with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
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