There was a rare drama on the run-up side during the women’s race during the cross-country World Championships in athletics. Letesenbet Gidey from Ethiopia seemed to be racing towards a safe World Cup gold, but 30 meters from the finish line the star athlete suddenly collapsed and fell to the ground. She is the reigning world champion in the 10,000 meters, holds the world records in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and half marathon, and was the advance favorite in the terrain WC. Gidey’s trainer Haile Eyasu rushed onto the course and helped her to her feet after the sensational fall. An Ethiopian supporter also came to the rescue, and the 24-year-old crossed the finish line as the fourth athlete to finish. Got help – got washed It was around 35 degrees during the race in Bathurst, Australia, and in the finish area Gidey still looked completely exhausted. She was surrounded by medical personnel after crossing the finish line and was quickly carried out in a wheelchair. Because she had received outside help to get back on her feet after the collapse, the Ethiopian was disqualified from the race. The star runner should be fine now, but she has not commented after the race. “One of the most dramatic moments of all-time in the history of the Terrain WC,” writes journalist in Athletics Weekly, Jason Henderson, on Twitter. Gidey’s fall came around the same time Beatrice Chebet passed her on the run. The Kenyan crossed the finish line first, and took his first senior gold in the cross-country WC. – I am happy to win. I have represented my country in a good way and won gold, she says to news’s podcast “I det lange løp” and says that this summer’s big goal is the WC in Budapest. – I didn’t expect to win, but I saw that she slowed down. I saw I had a chance and accelerated. I felt she had nothing more to give and could not threaten me. I knew I had the potential to win, I felt strong, says Chebet to World Athletics. Tsigie Gebreselama took the silver, Agnes Jebet Ngetich the bronze. – Really intense There was also high humidity in the area during the race. Clouds eventually covered the sky, and the men’s race was postponed for 20 minutes due to lightning and rain. Journalist for the athletics website Jonathan Gault writes on Twitter. Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s race ahead of Berihu Aregawi and Joshua Cheptegei. – It was a good track. Even with a lot of wind, it was really intense. For me, it is an advantage that there are a lot of hills where we train in Uganda. It wasn’t easy, but I did my best, says Kiplimo. There were no Norwegians at the start in either the men’s or women’s class. WINNER: Jacob Kiplimo. Photo: Dean Lewins/AP
ttn-69
Dramatic images as the star collapsed on the run – carried out in a wheelchair
