- Shelley Chaplin competed in the Athens, Beijing and London Paralympic games
- Her specialist bike was stolen out of the carport of her Melbourne home
- She is ‘devastated’ because the bike holds no resale value and is unique
- The athlete’s insurance policy did not have the bike listed on it
Melbourne Paralympian Shelley Chaplin is ‘devastated’ after her specialist bike was stolen from the carport of her Melbourne home.
The incredible hand-crafted piece of equipment is worth over $10,000 and was purchased shortly after the London Olympics games in 2012 of which Ms Chaplin represented Australia in the Paralympics basketball tournament.
Understandably she is heartbroken over the loss and explained to the Herald Sun that it’s actually ‘useless’ to anyone else because of the way it is shaped specifically to her body.
The incredible hand-crafted piece of equipment is worth over $10,000 and was purchased shortly after the London Olympics games in 2012 of which Ms Chaplin (pictured) represented Australia in the Paralympics basketball tournament
‘I’m disappointed as it’s not replaceable. It will be a massive expense to replace and it’s useless to anyone else,’ she said
‘I’m disappointed as it’s not replaceable. It will be a massive expense to replace and it’s useless to anyone else,’ she said.
Police believe the bike was stolen on Thursday night or early Friday morning from the couple’s garage in Seaford.
Ms Chaplin believes the thieves may have thought the bike was a normal recumbent leg bicycle – the kind found in gyms to tone your quads and legs – which can be quite expensive.
Ms Chaplin believes the thieves may have thought the bike was a normal recumbent leg bicycle – the kind found in gyms to tone your quads and legs – which can be quite expensive
The Paralympian’s partner Kieran Matheson said that Shelley uses the bike as a form of exercise as well as getting around day-to-day. Mr Matheson’s regular bike was also in the carport but was not taken.
‘Whoever has stolen it won’t be able to sell it because it’s so unique, it’s useless to any able-bodied person,’ he commented.
The couple do have contents insurance but unfortunately the bike was not listed in the policy.
Ms Chaplin is a decorated athlete having competed in the Athens, Beijing and London Paralympic games with her team the Gliders.