Lamecha Girma taken to hospital after horror steeplechase fall at Paris Olympics
A world record holder was stretchered from the track after an incident one commentator described as the worst in 40 years.
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There were horror scenes as a world record holder was stretchered from the track at the Stade de France after a shock fall in the men’s 3000m steeple chase.
Lamecha Girma clipped a barrier and fell backwards into the track late in the race won by defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco on Thursday (AEST).
Footage of the incident shows the runner landing heavily on his back and his head appeared to strike the hard ground.
Girma, who set a world-record time of 7:52:11 at a meet in Paris last year, was left sprawled and motionless on the ground with medical staff rushing to his aid.
The Ethiopian clipped the third-last hurdle with his knee and plunged into the track, with his competitors needing to avoid him as they ran to the finish line.
A race commentator for US channel Peacock, Leigh Diffey, said he had “never seen a fall that heavy” in 40 years of covering and running the steeplechase.
Girma eventually left the track on a stretcher with his neck secured by a brace
The 23-year-old was taken to hospital, according to a source at the Ethiopian athletics federation, but was not undergoing surgery.
French newspaper L’Equipe reports Girma lost consciousness for a period but was speaking when taken from the stadium.
Girma and his Ethiopian teammates had set the pace in the early stages before it all ended in tragedy.
Gold medallist El Bakkali offered his thoughts to his opponent following the race.
“We regret that one of the athletes fell in this steeplechase final. The athlete from Ethiopia,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that it happened. There was respect in the competition among the athletes.”
The Moroccan became the first man to win back-to-back 3000m steeplechase gold medals at the Olympics since 1932.
US athlete Kenneth Rooks, who took silver, said he did not know how bad the fall was until after finishing.
“I didn’t know who fell until after the race,” he said.
“I will keep him in my prayers.”
Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot came home third for the bronze medal.
BBC commentator Andrew Cotter said: “The drama and the danger of the steeplechase.
“An astonishing race, a very strange race.”
A spokesperson for Paris 2024 said Girma “received immediate care from the on-site medical teams”.
“Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery.
“Paris 2024 is in close contact with the Ethiopian NOC to stay updated on his condition.”
– with AFP.
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