How a Slovakian skier stole and hid Australia’s mascot, Bruce the emu, in her bathroom for two day
Cortina: Just 12 hours before 20-year-old Slovak alpine skier Alexandra Rexova won her second medal at the Winter Paralympics, she was trying to place a life-size brass emu in the athlete’s bathroom in her village.
Rexova has a visual impairment and is competing with two guides, Matis Duris and Sophia Polak. But on March 8, a day after winning the bronze medal in downhill skiing and a night’s sleep away from another win in the super-G, Duris and Polak were guiding Rexova through Cortina; Duris and Rexova each carried one side of the emu base.
Alexandra Rexova hid Australia’s mascot emu Bruce in her bathroom for two days. Credit: access point
They had seen it during the day, parked outside the Australian base, as it has been in every village since the 2016 Rio Games. Rexova and Duris, called “Bruce” by Australians, heard that the mascot had been stolen during the 2024 Paris Games and waited until late at night to carry out their own theft.
“We came to the village and heard about the emu and the story of this tradition,” Rexova told the Australian Paralympic Games. “And you know, we are Slovaks and so we decided to steal it and hide it in our bathroom.”
Bruce the emu during the kidnapping.Credit: Alexandra Rexova via Australian Paralympic Games
The next day they left a ransom note.
“We noticed you were looking for your mascot,” the handwritten note read. “Don’t worry! He is safe and receiving the best care. We respect the tradition of stealing the mascot and he will be back to you soon!”
Olivia Cruise, an Australian Federal Police officer assigned to security on the Paralympic team, was tasked with trying to find the emu.
“I have contacted some of our allies, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, who have offered resources to assist in the search,” he said. “Paolo from village security said they were searching the CCTV for evidence.”
