A STUDENT who broke the world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean has condemned a thief who stole her training bike.

The black Specialized Allez machine belongs to Naomi Hoogesteger, who was part of a six-strong team which rowed from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in 31 days, 23 hours and 31 minutes, earlier this year.

She had been hoping to use the bike for her next trip – cycling from Alaska to Argentina.

The £500 bike was taken from a university underground car park in Elvet Riverside, opposite the police station, in Durham City, last Monday.

Ms Hoogesteger, 29, who has almost completed her PhD at Durham University, said: “It is more than just something to train on.

“I have had it a long time and there is a lot of history for me and that bike.”

The thief hacksawed a lock from the bike and the university believes the same person is responsible for other thefts because the same technique has been used.

Footage of the suspect has been caught on CCTV, which is being studied by investigating officers, and it is believed the thief buys the hacksaw blades from Durham Indoor Market.

Miss Hoogesteger, who is originally from Somerset, but now lives in Durham City, said: “I just think how dare he? Does he know how important that bike is to me?

“He will regret it if I ever get to meet him.”

Miss Hoogesteger’s record-breaking 3,000-mile Atlantic voyage with Team Hallin, which ended in Port St Charles, Barbados, in February, raised thousands of pounds for the charity Combat Stress.

Ms Hoogesteger said it took her a while to recover.

She said: “I went for a run ten days after I got back and could not feel my legs.”

Miss Hoogesteger is planning to raise money for community projects for disadvantaged people in South America through her Alaska to Argentina trip.

“It may not happen for five or ten years, but I would like to set myself a major challenge for each decade of my life,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0345-60-60-365.