Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma Stretchered Off After Dramatic Steeplechase Fall

Medics rushed to attend the 23-year-old Ethiopian athlete after a hard fall during the steeplechase final.

PARIS, France — Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma exited the Olympic track on a stretcher following a severe fall in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final.

Girma, 23, stumbled while jumping the third-to-last barrier, crashing onto the track and lying motionless for several minutes.

Medical staff quickly intervened, placing him on a stretcher and securing a neck brace before removing him from the track.

Before the incident, Girma, the world record holder, had an early lead alongside his Ethiopian teammates.

The fall occurred with just two laps remaining, seemingly due to a mistimed jump over the hurdle.

Girma had been a strong contender for a medal until this unfortunate accident.

Who won the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final?

Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his title, finishing in 8 minutes, 6.05 seconds, narrowly beating America’s Kenneth Rooks by .36 seconds.

Rooks led into the homestretch, nearly achieving a substantial upset before El Bakkali overtook him.

Despite finishing second, Rooks set a new personal best, securing America’s second silver in three Olympics for this event, following Evan Jager’s second-place finish in 2016.