Ricardo Ten Argiles is quickly becoming a cult hero after he was presented with arguably the worst trophy ceremony gift ever seen in sport.
The Spanish para-cyclist was last week crowned world champion in three separate events at the 2023 UCI World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
However, the 47-year-old is going viral for a different reason.
Ten was twice presented with gold medals during post race ceremonies — and was twice presented with a watch from the event’s major sponsor Tissot.
The only problem is Ten had both arms amputated at the wrist.
A video of Ten keeping a straight face while being handed the watch in a fancy display case has started to spread across the internet with more than 800,000 views.
One video shows Ten standing on the podium and exchanging some friendly words with an official as he holds the watch case tightly between his arms.
Understandably, the mortifying moment has been met with outrage and black humour.
The man himself has been laughing off the incident and has embraced the way his social media pages have exploded with comments.
Ten also released a classy video for his fans and it is easy to see why he has become a cult hero in the eyes of many.
He races in the C1 class, for cyclists with greater physical disabilities.
He was only eight years old when doctors amputated his hands and his left leg after an incident where he was electrocuted by high voltage wires. He has previously said 75 per cent of his body suffered third degree burns.
He is asked in the video that is going viral this week what time it is and responds by showing off the watch on his arm and saying: “It’s world champion time”.
He responded to one news story about the “tactless blunder” by writing on Twitter: “I am very happy to have won two TISSOTs, one for each arm, but above all for what it means for Paralympic cycling, total inclusion of the sport at the highest level”.
The 47-year-old para athlete secured five medals at the title games in Scotland. In addition to gold in the road time trial, he struck especially on the track: gold in the scratch and omnium, plus silver in the pursuit and bronze in the team sprint.
Ten secured five individual medals during the event, including a gold medal in the road time trial and the scratch race and omnium at the velodrome.
His results blew him away.
“Although there have been other Cycling World Cups that have also been phenomenal for me, this one in Glasgow has had much more echo,” he told Spain’s Foment d’Esportistes amb Reptes.
“To a large extent, due to the singularity of the event. Being a ‘Super World Cup’ and coinciding with conventional competition, everything is amplified.
“It has been a privilege to play this innovative, special and inclusive World Championship.”
Ten is now preparing to race in the European championships and will then have his sights set on the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
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