For Lamecha Girma, the Paris Games were supposed to be a great chance to finally break away from the tag of the eternal second. The Ethiopian won silver medals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the last three world championships (2019, 2022, 2023), the indoor world championships (2022) and at the Tokyo Games three years ago. His real executioner was the Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali, who beat him in three of the five mentioned cases.
It was supposed to be a duel of great rivals, but it turned out to be an even greater drama
This year, fans were also eyeing an Ethiopian-Moroccan duel, as Girma had the fastest time in the world this season (8:01.63) and El Bakkali was also in the top of the world lists. Unfortunately, things turned out very differently and badly for the Ethiopian.
The competition was already entering the decisive last lap. The field was very stretched, and the favorites, namely El Bakkali, Girma, American Kenneth Rooks and Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot, started to break away to decide the medals between themselves. Unfortunately, while jumping over one of the obstacles, the Ethiopian caught his leg on it and fell. What's worse, he did it so unlucky that he hit the ground hard with his back first, and then with his head, which knocked him unconscious. The good thing is that none of the rivals stepped on him later.
Lamecha Girma was taken to hospital. El Bakkali with gold
After the race, Girma was attended to by medical services. The world record holder was still unconscious when the medics put him on a stretcher and took him straight to the ambulance and then to the hospital. The French daily “L'Equipe” reported the latest news on the matter. The Ethiopian regained consciousness and was able to speak normally. He is currently undergoing tests. As for the race, it was won by the Moroccan El Bakkali, just 0.36 seconds ahead of the American Kenneth Rooks. This is his second consecutive (and second in his career) Olympic gold at this distance. The podium was completed by the Kenyan Kibiwot.