Australia's one-legged emu mascot returned by Slovakian alpine skier after brazen heist probed by police in Paralympic village
A Slovakian athlete has warned that she will steal Australia's emu mascot again in the future, despite being caught in the middle of a police investigation in Milano Cortina.
A brazen heist unfolded outside Australia's building in the Paralympic village, with team mascot Bruce the Emu stolen and held hostage by a Slovakian alpine skier.
Alexandra Rexova, a visually impaired athlete, was unmasked as the mastermind behind the theft, having found a good luck charm in Australia's mascot.
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It has been somewhat of a tradition that a team's mascot has been stolen in the village by a rival nation in recent years, with Australia falling victim twice.
Bruce - a five-foot-five one-legged emu - was held hostage in Rexova's bathroom for 48 hours before he was returned to Australia's accommodation in the village, courtesy of a police investigation.
"We noticed that you are looking for your mascot," a ransom note left by Rexova 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."
The ransom note left by Alexandra Rexova. Paralympics Australia
The Australian Paralympic team plastered flyers around the building calling for help to find Bruce, who was last seen wearing a blue beanie.
A reward of one gold kangaroo pin was offered to those with information.
Australian Federal Police officer Olivia Cruise, who was with the Paralympic team for security, was placed in charge of finding Bruce.
The likes of Australia's allies Great Britain, Canada and Germany were able to assist Cruise in finding Bruce's location, with the village security also working alongside her to go through the CCTV footage.
Italian police also joined the investigation to identify where Bruce was.
Two members of Slovakia's team steal Bruce the Emu. Paralympics Australia
Rexova has since revealed that her plan to steal Bruce was inspired by the stories about his past kidnapping while in the village at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
She recruited the assistance of her two guides to help her perform the heist, but she did not expect that their shenanigans would prompt a police investigation.
"The policeman was outside and was trying to find it," she told Paralympic Australia.
At first, it was believed that members of Slovakia's curling team were behind the heist. Rexova then came clean to the authorities.
"I was really stressed about it," Rexova added.
"We have to give it back. I was saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' We didn't want to damage it.
"We had him one or maybe two days in the bathroom. I opened the curtains and closed the door to the bathroom. There was nothing, it's clear, you could see it's clean.
"We just wanted to continue in this tradition and have some fun and some adrenaline."
Alexandra Rexova reacts after competing in the Women's Alpine Skiing Super-G Vision Impaired. Getty
Even though the investigation surprised Rexova, she confirmed that if the opportunity to steal Bruce - or Stefan as Slovakian athletes renamed him - she would do it again.
"He brought me good luck," she said.
"So, maybe in another Paralympics, you know what we are going to do."
Rexova finished her time in Cortina with three bronze medals.
