World record holder Lamecha Girma carried off on stretcher after horror fall in Olympics steeplechase final

WORLD RECORD holder Lamecha Girma was stretchered off after a horrific fall during the Olympic steeplechase final.

The Ethiopian, 23, was near the front of the pack on the last lap when he clipped the third from last barrier and hit the track hard.

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He was attended to by medics and placed in a neck brace, before being carried off the track.

A Paris 2024 spokesperson said: “Following his fall in the 3000m steeplechase, Lamecha 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.”

Girma claimed silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympics in Tokyo three years ago.

He has also won three world championship silver medals since 2019.

He is the world record holder for the steeplechase with a time of 7:52:11 which he set in Paris last year.

And Girma is also the indoor record holder for the 3000m with a time of 7:23:81.

Moments after Girma’s fall, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali claimed victory in the steeplechase to defend his Olympic crown.

He crossed the line in a time of 8:06:05, before saying: “We regret that one of the athletes fell in this steeplechase final. The athlete from Ethiopia.

“It is unfortunate that it happened. There was respect in the competition among the athletes.”

USA’s Kenneth Rooks took silver and added: “I didn’t know how bad his fall was. I didn’t know who fell until after the race.

“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.”

While Peacock commentator Leigh Diffey saud: “In 40 years of commentating running and the steeplechase, I have never seen a fall that heavy.”

According to L’Equipe , Girma “lost consciousness on the track” but then regained his senses and was “able to speak a few minutes later”.

Former NBA star Pau Gasol tweeted: “Wishing Lamecha Girma strength and a speedy recovery after his fall in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase final. All the best to him .”

Elsewhere on the track on Wednesday evening, Team GB’s Matthew Hudson-Smith narrowly missed out on gold in the men’s 400m as he had to settle for silver.

USA’s Quincy Hall dramatically ran the Brit down in the final stages to snatch the Olympic crown.

It means Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m title remains GB’s only gold on the track so far at the Paris Games.