George Mills gave an emotion-fuelled interview after falling in his Men’s 5,000m heat X fornerly Twitter / @BBCSport Mills confronted French competitor Hugo Hay after the race PA The pair appeared to get heated Reuters Mills seemed reluctant to accept Hay’s apologies Getty
The 25-year-old was on course to finish in eighth place before he tumbled to the track after colliding with Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, leading to an 18th place finish with a time of 14:37.08.
That was nearly a whole 20 seconds behind race winner Narve Gilje Nordas.
Mills was one of four runners who were caught up in mass chaos on the final lap and fell to the ground as a result.
And now he has opened up on the fall and the argument that followed, claiming he was “stepped out on”.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I mean I think it’s pretty clear, I got stepped out on.
“I was about to kick on in the home straight and… boom, the French lad took me down.”
When asked about what he said to Hay during the confrontation, Mills was reluctant divulge any details.
Mills took a tumble over Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo on the last lap Getty The Team GB star hit the deck with so little of the race to go AFP
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He simply replied: “I’m probably not allowed to say.”
Mills went on to plead with British Athletics to appeal his 18th place finish, which would mean he could still qualify for the final.
He said: “I haven’t seen anyone, but I am pretty sure that the BA will be on it to put an appeal in, I hope.
“From my perspective that was a perfect qualifier for me – going through the first 2,000m in six minutes.
“Nobody in this field can run away from me at this pace so I was just sitting, waiting and biding my time.
“I was going to kick on for the home straight, and then BANG – I hit the deck. But what can you do?”
Adding: “I was prepared. I don’t mind it when it’s messy like that. I even managed to hurdle a fall coming into the bell.
“Once that happened I was like ‘oh thank god for that, I don’t want to hit the deck here’.
“And then as I started to put my foot down on the home straight I got taken out.”
Fortunately for Mills, he didn’t even need an appeal as he and all the other racers who had taken a late tumble in the race were advanced to the final by the referee.
French competitor Hay pleaded his innocence in an interview after the race, explaining: “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.”
Both Mills and Hay are set to compete in the Men’s 5,000m final after qualifying, which will take place on Saturday.
The race was originally supposed to have 16 runners, but due to the referee awarding extra spots to those who fell there will now be 19 – making it even more likely there will be collisions.
Mills will still be able to compete in the Men’s 5,000m final after the referee awarded him a spot Getty French athlete Hay will also run the race Reuters George is the son of Premier League hero Danny Mills Instagram @dannymills77 Danny Mills wasn’t shy to show his emotions on the pitch either Reuters
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