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Cortina: Just 12 hours before claiming her second medal of the Winter Paralympics, 20-year-old Slovakian alpine skier Alexandra Rexova was trying to fit a life-size brass emu into her bathroom inside the athlete’s village.
Rexova has a visual impairment and competes with two guides, Matis Duris and Sophia Polak. But on March 8, a day after winning bronze in the downhill skiing and one night’s sleep away from winning another in the super-G, Duris and Polak were guiding Rexova through Cortina – with Duris and Rexova each carrying one side of the base of the emu.
Alexandra Rexova hid Australia’s mascot, Bruce the emu, in her bathroom for two days. Credit: AP
They’d seen it during the day, parked outside the Australian base just as it has been in every village since the 2016 Rio Games. Coined “Bruce” by the Australians, Rexova and Duris had heard the mascot had been stolen during the 2024 Paris Games and waited until late at night before comitting their own theft.
“We came to the Village and heard about the emu and the story about this tradition,” Rexova said to Paralympics Australia. “And, you know, we are Slovakians and so we decided to steal it and hide it in our bathroom.”
Bruce the emu during the abuduction.Credit: Alexandra Rexova via Paralympics Australia
The following day, they left a ransom note.
“We noticed that you are looking for your mascot,” the handwritten note said. “Do not worry! It is safe and receiving the best care. We respect the tradition of mascot stealing and it will return to you soon!”
Olivia Cruise, the Australian Federal Police officer deployed with the Paralympic team for security, was tasked with trying to find the emu.
“I’ve contacted some of our allies, including from Canada, Great Britain and Germany, who have offered resources to help in the search,” she said. “Paolo from village security said they were scouring CCTV for evidence.”
For two days, Rexova had the emu inside her bathroom. All the while Italian police began narrowing in on the Slovakians, suspecting members of the curling team had taken it. Rexova began to get nervous.
“The policeman was outside and was trying to find it,” she said. “I was really stressed about it. We have to give it back. I was saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’”
“We didn’t want to damage it. We just wanted to continue in this tradition and have some fun and some adrenaline.”
But then Rexova missed the podium in her next two events. Both had been fourth place finishes and both with Duris as her guide, while her first two, both ending in medals, had been with Polak. Although they’d returned Bruce, Rexova was concerned that having him had been her good luck charm.
Alexandra Rexova and guide Matus Duris winning bronze in the women’s VI slalom. Credit: Getty Images for IPC
But in her final race on Saturday, and in the same race as Australians Georgia Gunew and guide Ethan Jackson, Rexova and Duris claimed bronze – Rexova’s third medal of the Games – by 0.08 seconds.
“He brought me good luck,” she said after her final race. “So, maybe in another Paralympics, you know what we are going to do.”
This masthead has travelled to Cortina as a guest of Paralympics Australia.
The Winter Paralympic Games is broadcast on the Nine Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
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