Yuri Van Gelder Sent Home By Dutch Team

 

Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder, dubbed the 'Lord of the Rings', returned home in disgrace on Tuesday after being kicked off his country's Olympics team for a night out drinking in Rio. The 2005 world men's rings champion had sealed a place in Rio in the men's rings finals, after coming seventh in Saturday's qualifiers.

But flouting strict rules imposed on the Dutch team he then went out to celebrate in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, failing to return until the early hours of Sunday. Maurits Hendriks, Dutch team ambassador said “This has been a very difficult decision for us, I think this is really terrible for Yuri, but such behaviour is unacceptable. It does not belong in the Olympics or any kind of sporting competition.”

The Dutch Olympics team said Van Gelder who had finally realised his dream to compete in his first Olympics, had admitted consuming alcohol outside the Olympic village and had been withdrawn from the competition. Hendriks added the team leadership had been left with no choice but to bar Van Gelder from continuing in the games.