Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma has reportedly regained consciousness after suffering a heavy fall at the start of the final 200 metres of the men’s steeplechase at the Paris Olympics.
The 23-year-old world record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase lost consciousness during the event and fell off the track, causing unrest among fans.
According to the French news agency, it is believed that Girma has now regained consciousness, as he was able to utter a few words before being taken to hospital for examination. The team.
Girma appeared to have lost his mind after he tripped over a hurdle and hit the ground hard, first with his back and then with his head.
He lay on his stomach and remained motionless as the entire platoon avoided him.
Lamecha Girma lost consciousness after tripping over a hurdle during the steeplechase final
Girma lay motionless with his eyes open and his left leg twitching as doctors rushed to his side
From a distance, the images of Girma’s journey were terrifying, as his left leg was seen convulsing and his eyes were open as he wore a neck brace on the stretcher.
“Following his fall in the 3,000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care 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 makings of an epic duel as Soufiane El Bakkali waited in the middle of the peloton before making his move with around 300 metres to go, overtaking Girma, who was charging through the pack.
However, events took a shocking turn when Girma fell, prompting shocked reactions from the crowd.
Girma’s fall occurred in the final 200 meters of the 3000m event at the Stade De France in Paris
Girma (second from left) before his worrying fall in the peloton of the 3000m steeplechase
Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali eventually won the event ahead of American Kenneth Rooks
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El Bakkali overtook Kenneth Rooks at the final corner, but the American pushed on and set a personal best, surprisingly taking silver.
The Moroccan held his arms wide as he crossed the finish line, becoming the first consecutive winner of the event since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936, as medical staff continued to tend to Girma.
Fans at the Stade de France gave him a warm round of applause as he was strapped onto a stretcher and carried through a tunnel.
“I didn’t really know how bad the crash was. I didn’t know until after the race who had crashed. So I’ll be praying for him,” Rooks said.
