‘Crazy’: Chaos as runners forced to dodge cameraman walking through 5000m heat

Commentators were left in shock after runners were forced to dart around a camera operator in an ‘insane’ Olympics moment.

A cameraman was caught up in the middle of the pack. Picture: Nine

A cameraman has caused major chaos during one of the men’s 5000 metre heats after walking right into the running pack.

Athletes were forced to dodge the camera operator about 10 minutes in the race after he managed to find himself in the way of the runners while filming on the track.

The move had commentators everywhere in shock, with Nine’s Gerard Whateley was quick to point out the insane move.

“Oh dear, he just wandered out in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

“Good grief! Man. that’s where the javelin is – and just no awareness whatsoever of what was going on.

“These 5000s have been crazy.”

The cameraman was seemingly oblivious to the runners coming towards him. Picture: Nine

The athletes were forced to run around him. Picture: Nine

The Eurosport commentator also could not believe his eyes saying: “There’s a camera man in the way and the athletes had to go wide. The cameraman was just standing there.

“The cameraman was stood there in lane two and the athletes had to run around him. Oh, it’s been one of those mornings.”

Sports journalist David Hussey wrote on X: “Cameraman walking through the middle of the 5000m race. Absolutely insane”.

The race was second to an equally chaotic opening heat on Wednesday night AEST, with Australia’s Stewart McSweyn caught up in a dramatic crash at the finish line.

Britain's George Mills was one of the athletes to fall. Picture: AFP

The crash resulted in a confrontation between France’s Hugo Hay and Great Britain’s George Mills.

“It’s pretty clear, I got stepped out on,” Mills said post-run.

“I was about to kick on in the home straight and boom! The French lad took me down.”

McSweyn was delayed enough by the crash to miss qualifying for the final.

Hay said he was shocked by Mills’ reaction post-race.

A number of the runners fell to the ground. Picture: AFP

“I’m really surprised. I just hope that I didn’t do anything and I will not be disqualified.

“For me, that was nothing.

“Like I said to George, I will watch the images and if I’m the guy that did it, I will apologise.

“For me, I didn’t do anything. I just hope that I can go in the final.”

The men’s 5000m final will take place on Sunday morning at 3.50am AEST.

Originally published as ‘Crazy’: Chaos as runners forced to dodge cameraman walking through 5000m heat