Jordan: stone throwing attack on Austrian athletes – sports mix

Sara Vilic and Tanja Stroschneider traveled to Jordan to compete in the Continental Cup in Akaba. Previously, the red-white-red duo wanted to train on the beach. A decision that could have had fatal consequences – because they were badly insulted and even stoned.

Vilic describes the dramatic scenes that took place in a supposedly quiet harbor basin: “Suddenly ten guys were there and insulted us. A few were already changing – we noticed that they didn’t like it: women in bathing suits and such,” she says to the “crown”

The 30-year-old Olympic participant from 2016 also reports: “When we were swimming, they surrounded us a bit – and suddenly threw stones at us! That’s when it got serious and really dangerous. A big one flew just past my head, one hit Tanja on the back. “

The Austrians decided to stay in the water. “We felt safer there, we’re faster. When one of the boys attacked me, I ducked him and we left.” The crowd grew to 30 guys, who also attacked coach Willi Lilge. He said: “If you are almost stoned while swimming, you know that the international triathlon association has awarded a race in a different culture.” Vilic added: “We had more luck than sense. Tanja only has a bruise. It could have ended badly.”

However, the trip to Jordan ended in third place for Vilic, Stroschneider was fifth. They will probably no longer make the decision to train on a public beach. “Everything is normal in the resort. Away from it you notice the foreign culture – especially towards women.”