WORLD RECORD holder Lamecha Girma has regained consciousness after his horrific fall during the Olympic steeplechase final.
The Ethiopian, 23, was near the front of the pack on the final lap when he clipped the third from last barrier and hit the track hard.
Girma, worryingly, lay motionless on the track before he received medical treatment.
Medics quickly tended to the fallen Ethiopian and placed him in a neck brace before carrying him off the track.
Girma was immediately taken to hospital, where he received further medical treatment.
But thankfully, he has regained consciousness and is beginning his road to recovery, with a photo of the athlete in a hospital bed shared on social media.
Girma is understood to be communicating with doctors and members of Team Ethiopia.
His regaining of consciousness is a welcome relief given the severity of his fall.
A Paris 2024 spokesperson said after the incident: “Following his fall in the 3000m steeplechase, Lamecha Girma received immediate care from the on-site medical teams.
“Our thoughts are with him and we are sending him our very best wishes for a swift recovery.
“Paris 2024 is in close contact with the Ethiopian NOC to stay updated on his condition.”
Girma claimed silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympics in Tokyo three years ago.
He has also won three world championship silver medals since 2019.
He is the world record holder for the steeplechase with a time of 7:52:11 which he set in Paris last year.
And Girma is also the indoor record holder for the 3000m with a time of 7:23:81.
Moments after Girma’s fall, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali claimed victory in the steeplechase to defend his Olympic crown.
He crossed the line in a time of 8:06:05, before saying: “We regret that one of the athletes fell in this steeplechase final. The athlete from Ethiopia.
“It is unfortunate that it happened. There was respect in the competition among the athletes.”
USA’s Kenneth Rooks took silver and added: “I didn’t know how bad his fall was. I didn’t know who fell until after the race.
“I will keep him in my prayers.”
Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot came home third for the bronze medal.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
More medals to be won in the velodrome with Emma Finucane eyeing gold in the women’s keirin (4.15pm) while Ethan Hayter goes in the men’s omnium (4pm).
The 3m men’s springboard diving final could be a chance for Jack Laugher to claim a fifth Olympic medal (2pm).
World champ and Tokyo silver medallist Bradly Sinden plus London and Rio gold star Jade Jones both go in the taekwondo (from 9.55am).
BRITS TO WATCH
The heptathlon begins at 9am with Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jade O’Dowda taking on the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m today.
The 4x100m men’s and women’s relays start with round one this morning (from 10.10am).
And Georgia Hall and Charley Hull have their second round at the golf (from 8am),
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
The men’s US basketball team face Serbia at 8pm hoping to book their place in the final.
The all-conquering Netherlands take on Germany for men’s hockey gold (6pm).
And there will be a host of athletics superstars in the finals on the track, with the men’s 200m (Noah Lyles) and men’s 110m hurdles (Grant Holloway) golds all up for grabs this evening from 7pm.
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Still time to get some beach volleyball action with the semi-finals from 4pm right by the Eiffel Tower.
Alternatively, the women’s handball semis feature Sweden vs France (3.30pm) and Norway vs Denmark (8.30pm).
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
BBC commentator Andrew Cotter said: “The drama and the danger of the steeplechase.
“An astonishing race, a very strange race.”
While Peacock commentator Leigh Diffey saud: “In 40 years of commentating running and the steeplechase, I have never seen a fall that heavy.”
Former NBA star Pau Gasol tweeted: “Wishing Lamecha Girma strength and a speedy recovery after his fall in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase final. All the best to him .”
Elsewhere on the track on Wednesday evening, Team GB’s Matthew Hudson-Smith narrowly missed out on gold in the men’s 400m as he had to settle for silver.
USA’s Quincy Hall dramatically ran the Brit down in the final stages to snatch the Olympic crown.
It means Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m title remains GB‘s only gold on the track so far at the Paris Games.
