Lamecha Girma, the Ethiopian world record-holder, is recovering after a serious fall during the final lap of the Olympic 3000m steeplechase final in Paris.
Girma collided with the final barrier on the back straight, just over 200 meters from the finish line, causing him to crash to the ground. Medics quickly rushed to assist him as he lay motionless for several moments.
While Soufiane El Bakkali claimed the gold medal and Kenneth Rooks followed closely, Girma’s condition was a cause for concern. Medical personnel placed him in a brace and carried him off the track.
For the next hour, worries over his well-being prevailed until updates confirmed that he was conscious and responding positively to medical care in the hospital. His management agency later issued a statement: “It was a scary scene last night in Paris. After a thorough medical examination, it has been confirmed that Lamecha does not have any significant head injuries. Further scans on his leg will be conducted before he can be discharged. We appreciate the efforts of the French medical team and thank everyone for their support.”
At 23 years old, Girma set the world steeplechase record in Paris last year with a time of 7:52.11. He also broke the long-standing world indoor 3000m record with a time of 7:23.81 earlier in Liévin, France. Despite his record-setting performances, he has yet to secure a gold medal in major championships, having finished as the runner-up in the World Championships (2019, 2022, and 2023) and the Olympics (2021) as well as the World Indoor Championships (2022). Alongside his world records, he has achieved a personal best of 3:29.51 in the 1500m.
During the steeplechase event in Stade de France, Girma was well-positioned as he approached the final lap. Attempting to build momentum, he surged toward the hurdle but miscalculated, resulting in one of his legs hitting the barrier and causing him to tumble onto the track.