Sir Steve Redgrave held up by mugger on beach in Rio

Five-time gold Olympic medallist Sir Steve Redgrave has been mugged on the beach in Rio de Janeiro - the city that will host the 2016 Olympics.

The Daily Mail reports that rowing hero Sir Steve, and his wife Lady Ann, were walking on Ipanema beach last week when a mugger demanded their watches and money.

The couple later reported the incident to the police and a source said that they were 'shaken but not injured'. Sir Steve confirmed that the incident had taken place, but declined further comment.

According to the Daily Mail, the couple flew to Brazil two weeks ago. Sir Steve was there to attend the Laureus World Sport Awards, and he also visited Rio's Lake Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the rowing venue for the 2016 Olympics.

Following the visit the said: "It's a marvellous setting, absolutely stunning. In our sport we normally compete outside the city. We never get to compete in the heart of a city, but here in Rio we have got that chance. We will be very much in the middle of it, with the Jesus Christ statue looking over the rowers."

The incident is sure to be an embarrassment for Brazil's Olympic organisers, who are keen to promote Rio's improved safety record and alleviate worries about crime.

However, at the moment organisers have more pressing concerns. The rowing lake currently faces a huge clean-up after it was filled with 65 tonnes of rotting fish, following a spell of stormy weather.

The Guardian reports that the lake became deoxygenated after storms washed 'a large amount of organic matter' into the water, leading to the deaths of thousands of fish.

The clean-up operation is ongoing.

Click on the image below to see photographs from the 2012 Rio Carnival...

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