A French runner was seen being tended to by medics after she suddenly collapsed to the track during the women’s 10,000-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Olympian Alessia Zarbo was one of the finalists competing in the women’s 10,000-meter race on Friday (August 9).
With just a handful of laps remaining, the 22-year-old collapsed while the rest of the competitors ran past her.
“We have a runner down. I think that’s the Frenchwoman Alessia Zarbo,” a broadcaster said. “It is quite humid and quite sticky and maybe the whole emotion of the occasion has got her as well.”
Footage posted by NBC Sports doesn’t reveal the moment the French star dropped, but it does show the medical team lifting her and carrying her away on an orange stretcher. The crowd at the Stade de France in Paris cheered in support as she was taken away.
While it has not been disclosed what caused Zarbo to collapse, French publication RMC Sport shared that the athlete is now “feeling better and recovering".
Beatrice Chebet of Kenya went on to win the match, just days after she took gold in the 5,000-meter on Monday (August 5). Italy’s Nadia Battocletti took silver while the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won bronze.
Although Zarbo - a former French national champion in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter distances - did not finish the race, she has a previous personal best of 32:28.57 that she set in 2022.
Zarbo's injury is just the latest in what has been a troublesome week for some track athletes.
On Wednesday (August 7), Ethiopian runner Lamecha Girma was removed from the race track by medics after a horrific fall during the 3000-meter men's steeplechase.
During the final lap, the 23-year-old clipped his knee on a barrier in the last lap and hit his head. He remained motionless as other athletes ran past and over him.
French outlet L'Equipe reported that Girma - who is the current world record holder and silver medalist from the Tokyo Games - regained consciousness shortly after and was taken off the track in a neckbrace and stretcher.
A member of the Girma's coaching team, who goes by the handle @angasurunning, provided an update on X (formerly Twitter).
They shared a picture of Girma sitting upright in the bed while still wearing his running gear, with the caption: "Coach Teshome Kebede said 'Lamecha Girma is in good condition.'"
While medical staff were tending to Girma, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali held his arms out wide as he clinched first place.
We wish Girma and Zarbo a speedy recovery!
