A scary scene developed during the 3000-meter men’s steeplechase when Ethiopian runner Lamecha Girma had to be stretchered off the track after falling as he attempted to clear a hurdle on the final lap of the event.
He was headed down the back straightaway with runners on the sides of him when he caught his knee on the hurdle sending him violently down to the ground, where he seemed to hit his head and laid motionless as the broadcast camera panned out as other runners cleared the hurdle around him.
The other competitors were able to avoid making contact with the injured Girma and medics made their way over to the the athlete to tend to him.
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma is put in a neck brace after falling during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024. AP
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma is stretchered off after falling during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024. AP
The Ethiopian runner was put in a neckbrace and taken off via stretcher by the medical staff tending to him.
French media outlet L’Equipe reported that Girma had regained consciousness and that he was speaking and was taken to a nearby hospital for further examination.
“In 40 years of commentating running and the steeplechase, I have never seen a fall that heavy,” Peacock announcer Leigh Diffey said during the broadcast, according to The Athletic.
Girma won silver in the event during the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 and holds the current world record in the 3000-meter men’s steeplechase, which he set in 2023 with a time of 7:52:11.
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma falls during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024. REUTERS Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma falls during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024. REUTERS
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma falls during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024. REUTERS
The 23-year-old had won silver three times at the World Championships in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali won gold in the event, defending his title after winning during the 2020 Olympics, with a time of 8:06:05.
American Kenneth Rooks won the silver medal, beating out Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot by 0.06 seconds.
A number of people took to social media to send their best wishes to Girma, including former NBA star Pau Gasol.
“Wishing Lamecha Girma strength and a speedy recovery after his fall in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase final. All the best to him,” Gasol wrote in a post on X.
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