Ethiopian athlete carried away on stretcher after terrifying fall in men’s 3000m steeplechase final

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Ethiopian track and field star Lamecha Girma is recovering from a terrifying scene in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase final that saw the current world record holder carried off the track on a stretcher after crashing on the final lap of the race on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Olympian was fighting for third place on the last lap of the race when he tried to clear a hurdle. His back leg appeared to hit the hurdle, sending him crashing down hard as the rest of the pack passed him.

Lamecha Girma carried away

Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma is carried off the track after a fall in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

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Girma lay motionless on the track at Stade de France after hitting the back of his head on the hurdle.

He was attended to by several medics before being fitted with a neck brace and then taken off the court on a stretcher.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave a positive update on Girma on Thursday.

Lamecha Girma is on the trail

Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma lies on the track during the final of the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase, an event in athletics that will be held on 7 August 2024 at the Olympic Games in Stade de France. (BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

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“We understand that he is in good condition and is doing well and is recovering,” the IOC said in a statement. via Reuters.

Girma was the defending silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. He is also the current world record holder, with a time of 7:52.11 set in Paris in 2023.

Lamecha Girma jumps over a hurdle

Lamecha Girma will compete in the men’s 3000 meters steeplechase at the 2024 Olympic Games on August 5, 2024. (Lui Siu Wai/Xinhua via Getty Images)

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Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco won the gold medal, followed by American Kenneth Rooks for silver and Abraham Kibiwot from Kenya for bronze.

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