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Lamecha Girma, an Ethiopean runner hit his head in a dramatic fall on the final lap of the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Paris Olympics.
Girma, the current world record holder in the event and a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, was on the back stretch with the rest of the field attempting to clear a hurdle.
But in the process, he clipped his knee on the hurdle and fell head-first onto the track where he lay motionless.
The race continued on – with medics eventually making their way onto the track to tend to the fallen athlete.
Girma was placed in a neck brace with his eyes open and his left leg convulsed before being stretchered off by first responders after the fall.
Lamecha Girma, the men’s 300m steeplechase world record holder, has suffered a heavy fall
The 23-year-old hit his head on the track after his left leg clipped a hurdle in the last 200m
Girma was then placed in a neck brace and stretchered off the track by medical professionals
It was later revealed on Wednesday that Lerma regained consciousness and uttered a few words before being taken to a Parisian Hospital for examination, according to French outlet L’Equipe.
The race ended in more of a shock when American distance runner Kenneth Rooks finished with a silver medal.
Rooks finished behind Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali and 0.06 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot.
El Bakkali made history – becoming the second man to successfully defend his Olympic steeplechase title since Volmari Iso-Hollo of Finland did so at the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin.
Girma has won the silver medal in the same event at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, and the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Back in June of 2023, Girma smashed the world record – running the 3000 meter race in a time of 7:52:11 – which was over one-and-a-half seconds faster than the old record which stood for 19 years.
