An Olympic athlete was carried off on a stretcher after a horrific fall during the 3000-meter men’s steeplechase.
Lamecha Girma, an Ethiopian runner, was making a charge towards the front of the pack during the final lap of Wednesday’s (August 7) final.
The 23-year-old’s race came to a dramatic halt after clipping his knee on a barrier in the last lap and hitting his head. He remained motionless as other athletes ran past and over him.
According to the French outlet L’Equipe, Girma regained consciousness shortly after and was taken off the track in a neckbrace and stretcher.
The young athlete, who is the current world record holder and silver medalist from the Tokyo Games, was then transported to a hospital for examinations.
“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.
Watch the moment below:
Paris 2024 issued a statement about Girma’s nasty fall, which read: “Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care from the on-site medical teams,” per Daily Mail.
“Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery,” they continued. “Paris 2024 is in close contact with the Ethiopian NOC to stay updated on his condition.”
A member of the athlete’s coaching team, who goes by the handle @angasurunning, provided an update on X (formerly Twitter).
They shared a picture of Girma sitting upright in the bed while still wearing his running gear, with the caption: “Coach Teshome Kebede said ‘Lamecha Girma is in good condition.'”
While medical staff were tending to Girma, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali held his arms out wide as he clinched first place.
El Bakkali successfully defended his title after winning during the 2020 Olympics with a time of 8:06:05, making him the first back-to-back winner of the event since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936.
American Kenneth Rooks won the silver medal, beating out Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot by 0.06 seconds.
Girma set the world record in the event in 2023 with a time of 7:52:11. He also won silver medals at the 2019, 2022 and 2023 world championships.
The fans at the Stade de France applauded the Ethoptian star as he was carried out through a tunnel after El Bakkali won the match.
Rooks, who came second place in the steeplechase, reportedly said after the match: “I actually didn’t know how bad the fall was – I didn’t know who fell until after the race – so I’ll just keep him in my prayers.”
We wish Girma a speedy recovery!