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The Ethiopian, who was tipped one of the favorites for the Olympic gold, landed horrifically on his head after unfortunately tripping and falling while manouvering a hurdle in the last lap.
Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma was at the center of a terrifying incident during the final 200 meters of the men's steeplechase at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday evening, as the 23-year-old suffered a serious fall that left him temporarily unconscious.
The alarming scene unfolded as Girma, a favorite for the gold medal, tripped over a hurdle and hit his head against the running track, leaving him lying prone on the ground.
Spectators and fellow athletes watched in shock as medical teams rushed to Girma's aid. The young steeplechaser was seen lying face down, unmoving, before being carefully lifted onto a stretcher and taken away for further medical attention.
Concerns over his condition grew as reports began circulating about the severity of his fall.
French outlet L'Equipe provided an early update, reporting that Girma had been taken to a hospital for examinations and had regained consciousness. This news offered some relief to fans and fellow athletes who had been deeply worried about his health.
Further reassurance came from Girma's coaching team, who posted an update on social media confirming that he was in stable condition.
The update was shared by X (formerly Twitter) user @angasurunning, a photographer who posted a picture of Girma sitting upright in a hospital bed, still in his running gear. The image was captioned with a statement from Girma's coach, Teshome Kebede, who said, "Lamecha Girma is in good condition."
The dramatic fall occurred in the closing stages of a highly competitive race. Girma, who had previously secured a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Tokyo Games, was aiming to go one better in Paris.
He had also earned silver medals at the 2019, 2022, and 2023 World Championships, and currently holds the men's world record for the 3,000m steeplechase, set with a time of 7:52:11 at the 2023 Paris Diamond League.
The race continued despite the accident, with other athletes narrowly avoiding Girma as they cleared the final hurdles. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco and Kenneth Rooks of the United States battled for the gold medal, with El Bakkali ultimately prevailing.
His victory made him the first man to defend an Olympic title in the 3,000m men's steeplechase since 1936. Kenneth Rooks claimed the silver medal, while Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot took the bronze.
In the aftermath of the race, the Paris 2024 organizing committee issued a statement regarding Girma's fall. "Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care from the on-site medical teams," the statement read. "Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery."
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08:47 - 08.08.2024
Abraham Kibiwott calls for patience from Kenyans as steeplechase drought continues
Abraham Kibiwott, who won bronze in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Paris Olympics, has urged Kenyans not to lose hope in the team as they seek a formula to reclaim the race.
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