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SYDNEY. — The Australian para-cyclist of the year says the medals were taken from her car parked outside the Victorian Institute of Sport in Melbourne early yesterday after thieves smashed through a window.Cooke had been showing off the medals at various promotional events.

“The medals are medals. They’re not the end of the world,” Cooke said. “But I share those medals with everybody I speak too, especially school kids. I’m not one of these athletes that puts them away. I take them with me and pass them around.”

The 55-year-old took gold in the women’s T1-2 road race in Rio a month ago and also defended her London 2012 crown in the 15km T1-2 road time trial. The Canadian-born former undercover police officer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 and has been in a wheelchair since 2001.

“I’m just gutted that they’re gone,” she said. “They’re priceless.” — AFP.