Soufiane El Bakkali’s golden reign as 3000m steeplechase champion continued because the Moroccan received his fourth world title prior to now 4 years.
Nevertheless the occasion was marred when world record-holder Lamecha Girma suffered a horrible fall when he hit a barrier exhausting 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 file, was hospitalised after the race. The Paris 2024 organisers stated: “Following his fall within the 3000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma obtained rapid care from the on-site medical groups. Our ideas are with him and we’re sending him our highest 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 well-liked silver for america in 8:06.41 and Abraham Kibiwot took bronze for Kenya with 8:06.47.
Lamecha Girma receives therapy (Getty)
On his victory, El Bakkali stated: “I’m actually glad I’ve received once more. That is my second Olympic gold. I’m actually, actually happy. This 12 months I’m going to have fun with household, mates and everyone.
“I’ve really labored exhausting this 12 months. It didn’t begin very properly for me as a result of I had a stress downside at the start of the 12 months. The harm was exhausting. 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 totally different. Final time there have been no followers, however this time everyone is right here within the stadium, and it’s my residence, it’s Paris.”
After Rooks completed second, British steeplechase Phil Norman took to social media to say: “A wonderful run by Kenneth Rooks of the USA to take silver within the 3000m steeplechase working an enormous 9sec PB. It’s value noting that he certified by way of a world rankings place, simply displaying 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 regularly moved by way of earlier than bolding taking the lead with a lap to go. He stated: “It has been an amazing 12 months for the USA. I feel we’ve received medals in each distance occasion that’s been run thus far on the lads’s aspect. It’s a particular 12 months.”
On his race, he added: “I had lots of confidence stepping into that I didn’t know precisely what my restrict was. Simply keep within the combine, give it the whole lot 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 combat 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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