Ben Ainslie Robbed of Rolex in Barcelona

Sir Ben Ainslie, the celebrated British yachtsman and four-time Olympic gold medalist, was robbed at knifepoint in Barcelona, where he is leading the UK's Ineos Britannia team for the America's Cup. The incident occurred on Saturday night as Ainslie was leaving a restaurant, resulting in the theft of his Rolex watch valued at approximately £17,000. He reported the crime to local authorities on Monday, acknowledging that while Barcelona is a wonderful host city, opportunistic crime can occur in major urban areas. As the city faces a rise in high-end thefts, Spanish police have increased security measures for the America's Cup event. Ainslie expressed hope for his team's success in the competition, which begins Thursday, while reflecting on the unfortunate incident. This robbery marks Ainslie's second experience with watch theft, highlighting a concerning trend of crime targeting tourists in Barcelona.