Horror crash of world record holder overshadows Olympic final
Lamecha Girma is the world record holder in the 3000m steeplechase and the favorite for the Olympic title. However, in the final, he stumbles over a hurdle and remains unconscious on the track. The shock is great, helpers rush to the Ethiopian while the race continues.
The Olympic final in the 3000m steeplechase was overshadowed by a heavy fall. Co-favorite Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia fell at the penultimate hurdle about 200 meters from the finish line and remained motionless on the ground. The 23-year-old got caught with his trailing leg and crashed face-first onto the track.
Helpers gestured and rushed to the world record holder. After several minutes of treatment, he was carried out of the Stade de France to the cheers of the audience. A neck brace was visible around Girma's neck. According to information from the French sports newspaper "L'Equipe", which cited the Ethiopian team, Girma was conscious and able to speak.
While Girma was on the ground, the competitors fought a thrilling finish. Gold went to Soufiane El Bakkali. The Moroccan won in 8:06.05 minutes ahead of the surprisingly strong American Kenneth Rooks, who was 0.36 seconds slower. Third place went to Abraham Kibiwot from Kenya. The German trio did not qualify for the final.
German surprises in discus throw
A German was in the final of the discus throw. Clemens Prüfer finished sixth with a throw of 67.41 meters and left the throwing ring smiling at the end. "I'm overjoyed. That was the best competition I've ever experienced," said Prüfer, adding with a look at the level, "That was probably the best discus competition ever. With my performance, I would have won bronze in Tokyo."
The surprise Olympic champion was the Jamaican Roje Stona, who threw the discus to a personal best of exactly 70 meters in the fourth round. Thus, the WM-19th of the previous year outdid all the favorites. "I think he still doesn't know what happened. None of the favorites would have had him on their radar," said Prüfer. Silver went to the Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna with only three centimeters less. The 21-year-old world record holder and European champion of 2022 missed the chance to follow in his father Virgilijus' footsteps for now. Alekna senior won the first of his two gold medals in Sydney in 2000 and collected several titles. The Australian Matthew Denny secured bronze with 69.31 meters.
Gold in the 400m went to the American Quincy Hall on the final meters in 43.40 seconds. Thus, Hall caught up with the Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith, who ran 43.44 seconds. Bronze went to the Zambian Muzala Samukonga in 43.74 seconds.
In the pole vault, the Australian Nina Kennedy triumphed with 4.90 meters ahead of Tokyo Olympic champion Katie Moon from the USA and the Canadian Alysha Newman, who both cleared 4.85 meters. The German starter Anjuli Knäsche finished 14th with 4.40 meters.
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris is eagerly awaited by athletes worldwide, following the dramatic events of the 2022 Olympics. Lamecha Girma, who was expected to dominate the 3000m steeplechase, suffered a heavy fall during the final.
Despite the unfortunate incident, expectations remain high for thrilling performances and unexpected champions at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
