RAHEL DANIEL appeared to walk off while leading the women’s 10,000m final at Paris 2024, leaving BBC commentators baffled.
The Eritrean, 22, had led at around the 2,000m mark, before vanishing from the front of the pack.
The BBC‘s coverage momentarily switched from the early stages of the women’s 10,000m to follow the men’s triple jump.
By the time it returned, Daniel had disappeared from the pack.
Confused BBC commentators claimed that Daniel had simply “wandered off”.
She is said to have tried to leave the arena, only to not be allowed to by officials.
Daniel was then made to trudge down the side of the home straight.
It is not yet clear why Daniel elected to end her participation in the race.
Rino Goshima of Japan inherited the lead from Daniel.
But she quickly fell down the order.
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Daniel participated in the 5,000m at the last Games in Tokyo, but did not manage to reach the final.
In the 10,000m discipline, she achieved a fifth place finish at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Today’s final was won by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet.
The 24-year-old had been expected to contend for gold, having broken the world record back in May.
France’s Alessia Zarbo was forced to quit the race mid-way through following a concerning fall.
Team GB’s Eilish McColgan crossed the line in 15th, while her team-mate Megan Keith finished 23rd after being lapped.
