Iranian Paralympian Bahman Golbarnezhad dies during cycling race – CBS News

RIO DE JANEIRO An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro
Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman
Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he
received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio
hospital where officials said he died.

“This is
truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole
Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well
as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President
Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it
believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said
Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of
the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to
the hospital.

The cause of the
crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

“The
Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a
shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

The Iranian flag
was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where
Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on
Sunday.

A moment of
silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

“This is
very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman,
head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our
hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people
of Iran.”

A Paralympic
biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the
London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for
athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his
second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.