Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha Girma exited the track on a stretcher after a hard fall at the penultimate barrier, just over 200m from the finish, in Wednesday’s 3000m men’s steeplechase. Girma, who was looking for Ethiopia’s first Olympic gold in the discipline, was catching up with the leading group when his right leg hit the hurdle, causing him to fall heavily.

The 23-year-old Ethiopian was near the front of the pack on the last lap when he clipped the third-to-last barrier and hit the track hard. He was no longer moving and was evacuated a few minutes later on a stretcher, to the applause of the public. Girma has reportedly been taken to hospital and is currently undergoing assessment. While Peacock commentator Leigh Diffey said: “In 40 years of commentating running and the steeplechase, I have never seen a fall that heavy.”

Moments after Girma’s fall, Morocco’s Tokyo Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali claimed victory in the race, retaining his title with a time of 8:06.05. American Kenneth Rooks took silver, and Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot finished in third place. The three Ethiopians in the final pushed a frantic pace in the first kilometre in an attempt to catch El Bakkali, but their efforts were in vain. The other Ethiopian athlete, Samuel Firew, finished sixth with a time of 8:08.87.

According to L’Equipe he “lost consciousness on the track” but then regained his senses and was “able to speak a few minutes later”. Girma, who is from Asela, won a silver medal in the event during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He also won silver in the event at the 2019, 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships.