Olympic athlete stretchered off the track after horrifying fall in steeplechase final

An Olympic athlete had to be stretchered off the track in a neck brace after suffering a bad fall during the steeplechase final.

Yesterday (August 7), Lamecha Girma, from Ethiopia, took a tumble during the men's 3,000m steeplechase Olympics final after his trailing foot clipped a hurdle on the way over - which sent him crashing to the ground.

According to The Guardian, the Olympian also hit his head on the track as he came down before landing directly on his back.

Girma, who holds the world record in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, lay motionless on the floor as his fellow athletes jumped over him - however, luckily no other competitors stepped on him.

Peacock commenter, Leigh Diffey, also said he had 'never seen a fall that heavy', as per TalkSport.

He was immediately taken care of by first aid officials and was stretchered out of the Stade de France and into a nearby medical room.

A statement from Paris 2024 organisers read: “Following his fall in the 3,000m 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 [National Olympic Committee] to stay updated on his condition.”

According to French outlet L’Equipe, he lost consciousness on the track before his team confirmed to the outlet that the 23-year-old athlete had regained consciousness and was able to speak a few minutes later.

An Ethiopian coach later took to social media to say that Girma was in a 'good condition', as per SPORTBible.

Girma was taken to the Pitié Salpêtrière hospital for further examinations.

During the Japan's Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Girma - having also broke the record for the men's indoor 3,000m - picked up a silver.

However, despite holding a world record in steeplechase, Girma has not yet won a gold medal.

The Ethiopian's world record in the sport was recorded at a Diamond League meeting in Paris last year, with a time of 7:52.11.

Soufiane El Bakkali, of Morocco, went on to top the podium following the dramatic scenes yesterday (August 7) with a score of 8:06.05.

It meant El Bakkali defended his Olympic title, clinching it from USA's Kenneth Rooks, who was leading at the point Girma fell, by 0.36 seconds.

Rooks took home silver for the US while Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot finished in third place, rounding off the podium.

Until this year, no Olympic gold medallist has managed to defend the title in the sport for 86 years since Volmari Iso-Hollo of Finland in 1936.