Moroccan maintains streak of worldwide championship victories however athletes and followers are hoping Lamecha Girma recovers from nasty accident with simply over 200m to go
Soufiane El Bakkali’s golden reign as 3000m steeplechase champion continued because the Moroccan received his fourth international title previously 4 years.
Nonetheless the occasion was marred when world record-holder Lamecha Girma suffered a horrible fall when he hit a barrier laborious with simply over 200m to go. Falling to the bottom with a heavy thud, the Ethiopian didn’t transfer till he was stretchered away by officers.
Girma, who additionally holds the world indoor 3000m report, was hospitalised after the race. The Paris 2024 organisers mentioned: “Following his fall within the 3000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma acquired instant care from the on-site medical groups. Our ideas are with him and we’re sending him our perfect needs for a swift restoration. Paris 2024 is in shut contact with the Ethiopian NOC to remain up to date on his situation.”
Oblivious to the accident, El Bakkali received a sprint-out for gold in 8:06.05 as Kenneth Rooks received a preferred silver for the USA in 8:06.41 and Abraham Kibiwot took bronze for Kenya with 8:06.47.
Lamecha Girma receives remedy (Getty)
On his victory, El Bakkali mentioned: “I’m actually glad I’ve received once more. That is my second Olympic gold. I’m actually, actually happy. This yr I’m going to rejoice with household, buddies and all people.
“I’ve truly labored laborious this yr. It didn’t begin very nicely for me as a result of I had a stress drawback firstly of the yr. The damage was laborious. However that is the Olympics. It’s not a standard day job, so I needed to maintain going.”
On his Paris win in comparison with Tokyo, he added: “This time is a bit completely different. Final time there have been no followers, however this time all people is right here within the stadium, and it’s my house, it’s Paris.”
After Rooks completed second, British steeplechase Phil Norman took to social media to say: “A superb run by Kenneth Rooks of the USA to take silver within the 3000m steeplechase working an enormous 9sec PB. It’s price noting that he certified through a world rankings place, simply exhibiting that something can occur.”
Norman, in fact, was one of many unfortunate British athletes who weren’t chosen by UK Athletics regardless of being in a world rankings qualifying place.
Rooks was on the again within the early phases and step by step moved via earlier than bolding taking the lead with a lap to go. He mentioned: “It has been an awesome yr for the USA. I feel we’ve received medals in each distance occasion that’s been run to this point on the boys’s aspect. It’s a particular yr.”
On his race, he added: “I had loads of confidence entering into that I didn’t know precisely what my restrict was. Simply keep within the combine, give it all the things that I had. It was surreal to take the lead on the finish and realise I’d get a gold, however I’m glad I used to be capable of struggle for the silver. It’s unreal, a dream. It’s been superior to take all of it in. The victory lap took so lengthy, seeing so many individuals.”
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