In Cortina, 20-year-old Slovak alpine skier Alexandra Rexova, who has a visual impairment and skis with guides Matis Duris and Sophia Polak, pulled off a playful heist just 12 hours before her second Winter Paralympics medal.
The Mascot Theft
On March 8, a day after securing bronze in downhill skiing and one night before another bronze in super-G, Rexova, Duris, and Polak spotted Australia’s life-size brass emu mascot, named Bruce, parked outside the Australian base in the athletes’ village.
Following a tradition that dates back to the 2016 Rio Games—and inspired by its theft during the 2024 Paris Games—the trio waited until late at night to snatch it. Duris and Rexova carried the base through the village to hide it in Rexova’s bathroom for two days.
“We came to the village and heard about the emu and the story about this tradition,” Rexova explained. “We are Slovaks, so we decided to steal it and hide it in our bathroom.”
The Ransom Note and Search
The next day, they left a handwritten ransom note: “We noticed that you are looking for your mascot. 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!”
Australian Federal Police officer Olivia Cruise, assigned to the Paralympic team for security, led the search. “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. Village security reviewed CCTV footage as Italian police suspected the curling team.
Rexova grew nervous with police nearby. “The policeman was outside and was trying to find it,” she recalled. “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.”
Medals and Good Luck
After returning Bruce, Rexova finished fourth in her next two events, both guided by Duris. She worried the mascot had been her lucky charm, especially since her first two medals came with Polak as guide.
In her final race on Saturday—the same event as Australians Georgia Gunew and guide Ethan Jackson—Rexova and Duris claimed bronze by 0.08 seconds, her third medal of the Games.
“He brought me good luck,” Rexova said afterward. “So, maybe in another Paralympics, you know what we are going to do.”
