Olympic Gold Medalist Hospitalized After Being Hit By Postal Truck

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Remco Evenepoel was hospitalized after being hit by a post office truck during training. 

The Belgian cyclist, 24, broke his right shoulder blade, right hand and a rib in the bizarre incident, which occurred on Tuesday, December 3, according to The Associated Press. 

Per Belgian media, Evenepoel was unable to avoid the door of the truck when it swung open in his path. He was initially transported to a hospital in Anderlecht, Belgium, and is reportedly awaiting a transfer to another hospital in Herentals, Belgium. His current recovery time is unknown. According to the cyclist’s team, his recovery time will be estimated once the Olympian arrives in Herentals. 

“His bike broke in two in that incident, but it’s better to split his bike in two than his arm,” Evenepoel’s team manager Patrick Lefevere told Belgium’s Sporza on Tuesday. 

Photos circulating on social media showed the aftermath of the incident, with Evenepoel sitting in a wheelchair with his busted bike on the ground. He never lost consciousness during the accident. 

“He was lying on the ground for a while,” said an onlooker, per the AP. “The door of the postal car was also completely twisted. His bike was completely broken, they folded it up like a wheelchair.”

The bystander added, “When I went to look, he looked deathly pale. The emergency services gave him a Coke.”

Evenepoel captured both the men’s road race and time trial at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the first cyclist to ever sweep both events at an Olympics. 

“BELGIUM, WE DID IT!!! Double Olympic Champion.🥇🥇,” Evenepoel posted via Instagram in August. “No words… I hope this inspires anyone to chase their dreams. 💭❤️.”

He added, “What an incredible race from the entire team and I’m so proud that I could finish it off.🇧🇪🚀”

Evenepoel was able to celebrate the historic achievement in Paris with his wife, Oumaima Rayane, by his side. 

“Woahhh, pinch me 🥹🥇🥇DOUBLE Olympic Champion!!,” Rayane posted via Instagram in August. “7 years ago, little Remco & Oumaïma would’ve never believed what’s happening now…We were 2 teenagers, neighbors and high school lovers with big dreams, and now we are living those dreams together!!”

She added, “This is your sign to never give up. Even when it feels impossible, even when the world says you’re not good enough, even when you face hate for who you are, even when you hit rock bottom. Get up and show them what you’re capable of ❤️.”

The couple got married in July 2022 on their fifth anniversary of dating. 

“Two hearts that beat as one 🤍,” Evenepoel posted via Instagram. “07.10.17 we became girlfriend & boyfriend. 07.10.22 we said ‘I DO’ to become wife & husband.”