Prior to the America's Cup competition, Sir Ben Ainslie defrauded
He expressed that while Barcelona has been a "fantastic host city" for the America's Cup, his experience is a reminder of the opportunistic crime that can occur in any major city.
Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor in history, was robbed of his Rolex watch at knifepoint in Barcelona, according to Spanish media reports. The incident occurred on Saturday night, when a group threatened the 47-year-old with a knife and took his Rolex, valued at €20,000 (£16,858), as reported by the newspaper La Vanguardia.
Sir Ben, who is currently in Barcelona preparing for the America's Cup qualification races, confirmed the theft in a statement.
He expressed that while Barcelona has been a "fantastic host city" for the America's Cup, his experience is a reminder of the opportunistic crime that can occur in any major city.
He added that the matter is now in the hands of local authorities.
BBC News has reached out to Sir Ben's team, Ineos Britannia, and the regional Catalonia police for additional information.
Sir Ben, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, is set to begin racing on Thursday in the Louis Vuitton Cup, which will determine the challenger to defending champions New Zealand in the America's Cup this October.
He serves as the team principal and skipper for Britannia, a team backed by billionaire and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group.
