BAYUSUF ATTACKED: Rio Olympic swimmer flown to South Africa after brutal attack

Hamdan Bayusuf

Kenyan swimmer Hamdan Bayusuf, who recently represented Kenya at the Olympic Games in Rio, was attacked by armed gangsters after a brutal home invasion that left him in critical condition.

The Olympian was admitted to Mombasa Hospital before he was airlifted to South Africa for specialised medical treatment. He was accompanied to South Africa by his elder brother Fahad Bayusuf, a former Kenyan long-distance swimmer.

Bayusuf, who competed in the men’s 100m backstroke in the Rio Olympics was attacked on Sunday night by thugs at his Nyali Estate residence when he tried to help his security guard who was under attack.

The swimmer was left in a coma after the attempted theft attack where he was slashed several times with a machete on his head.

His coach Fakry Mansoor, who was at the Mombasa Hospital before the swimmer was taken to the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, said the swimmer had attempted to rescue the security guard when he was attacked.

“The incident was reported at Nyali Police Station and we are yet to establish how the thugs gained entry into the heavily guarded residence,” said Mansoor.

Bayusuf’s cousin Sultan Bayusuf said in his Facebook account. “Asalamu aleikum brothers and sisters. I wanted to request you all to pray for our brother Hamdan Bayusuf as he is in a coma after a theft attack which got him slashed with a machete on his head.

“I ask you all for your prayers for our brother.”

Following the attack, Bayusuf’s family continued to receive a huge outpouring of support from friends, extended family and the entire swimming fraternity.

Kenya Swimming Federation Secretary Winnie Kamau on behalf of swimming fraternity sent a quick recovery message to Bayusuf.

“Hamdan (Bayusuf) is one of the top Kenyan men swimmers and we wish him a rapid recovery and be back to join his family,” said Kamau.

Fatma Mohideen said in her Facebook account. ‘We ask Allah to bring Hamdan back safe and sound.’

During the Rio Olympic games, Bayusuf who is also the captain of Bandari Swim Club, swam in the men’s 100m backstroke event where he clocked a time of 1:00.28 in the heats but did not qualify for the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi has been banned from competition for two years, the swimming federation FINA announced, after she failed a doping test at the Rio Olympics, adds AFP.

The 18-year-old tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, on August 8, the same day she took part in the women’s 100m butterfly final, finishing fourth.

She is banned from competing for two years, from August 11 this year to August 10, 2018, FINA said in an announcement Saturday.

Diuretics increase urination rates and can be used as “masking agents” to hide the presence of performance-enhancing substances that are screened for in doping tests.

Chen first made headlines when she won gold in the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle events at the 2014 Asian Games, with times that set championship records.

She also won gold at the 2015 World Championships with the Chinese 4x100m medley relay team.