Home > News

Paracyclist accepts ‘tactless’ world championships prize with absolute grace

Ricardo Ten won six medals in Glasgow, and a watch

Ricardo Ten getting a watch Photo by: Ricardo Ten @RicardoTen_
August 15, 2023
Share on SMS

Spanish cyclist Ricardo Ten was a true champion after gaining widespread online attention when a video circulated on social media of him being awarded a Tissot timepiece at the 2023 world championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ten had both of his arms amputated at the elbows when he was eight after touching high-voltage power lines. He has competed as a swimmer at the Paralympics, medalling several times, as well as racing his bike on both the track and road.

The Valencia native won six medals during his week of racing, including three golds. He won the rainbow jersey in the C1 scratch race, as well as the C1 omnium. He also claimed victory in the C1 ITT. However, it was the sponsor’s prize that drew significant fan interest. Watchmaker Tissot, a prominent sponsor of the event, traditionally gifts race winners with a unique timepiece to mark their triumph.
At the time, some thought it was a misstep from the organizers, given that it would be difficult for a cyclist who didn’t have a wrist to wear a watch. Some media outlets even called it a “tactless slip.”

But the world champion was all smiles and took it in stride, receiving a huge ovation from the crowd.

Despite his reaction and positivity, many on social media questioned the move from Tissot, wondering what use it would be to him.

However, Ten later posted a video wearing the timepiece around his bicep. When asked what time it was, he said, “It’s world champion time!”

He would later add to his tweet, explaining his gratitude for the special watches. “Thank you again Tissot for these World Championships and these three watches,” he posted. “Thank you very much for your contribution to these World Championships of inclusion.”

“I’ve had quite a lot of success. I’ve always been really competitive in every sport I’ve done,” he said in an interview with Cycling Weekly. “I knew that, by training and dedicating loads of hours to cycling, I could do well in it. But I never thought the results I’ve had would come so soon.”