Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma has reportedly regained consciousness after his heavy fall at the start of the final 200 metres of the men’s steeplechase at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old, the world record holder for the 3,000m steeplechase, went off the track after collapsing mid-race, worrying fans in the process.
Girma is believed to have regained consciousness, having been able to utter a few words before being taken to hospital for tests, the French outlet reported. The team.
Girma appeared to have lost consciousness after tripping over an obstacle and hitting the ground hard with his back and then his head.
Lying face down, he did not move as the entire platoon avoided him.
Lamecha Girma lost consciousness after tripping over an obstacle during the obstacle course final
Girma lay motionless with his eyes open and his left leg convulsing as medics rushed to him.
From afar, the images of Girma’s journey were terrifying, as his left leg could be seen convulsing and his eyes open as he wore a neck brace on the stretcher.
“Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate medical attention from the medical teams on site. Our thoughts are with him and we send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery,” Paris 2024 said in a statement.
The race had all the ingredients to be an epic duel as Soufiane El Bakkali waited in the middle of the pack before making his move around 300m from the finish, chasing Girma who was flying through the peloton.
However, events took an unexpected turn when Girma fell, causing gasps from the crowd.
Girma’s crash came in the final 200 metres of the 3000m race at the Stade De France in Paris.
Girma (second from left) before his worrying crash in the 3000m steeplechase pack
Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali eventually won the event ahead of American Kenneth Rooks.
Bakkali chased Kenneth Rooks into the final corner, but the American fought hard to set a personal best time and take a surprise silver medal.
The Moroccan spread his arms as he crossed the line, becoming the first back-to-back winner of the event since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936, as medical staff were still tending to Girma.
Fans at the Stade de France erupted in applause as he was strapped onto a stretcher and wheeled out through a tunnel.
“I didn’t actually know how bad the crash was; I didn’t know who crashed until after the race, so I’ll keep him in my prayers,” Rooks said.