Olympics star Alessia Zarbo collapses during women’s 10,000m final as medics rush to her aid in middle of race
FRENCH runner Alessia Zarbo collapsed during the women’s 10,000 metres as medics rushed to her aid.
The 22-year-old was attended to in the middle of the race as the leading pack continued to circulate the track.
Zarbo was applauded off by the home crowd in Paris as those in the Stade de France turned their attention towards the health of their distance runner.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet went on to win the race to add to her 5000m Olympic gold on Monday.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti claimed silver, with Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan replicating her third in the 5000m to take bronze.
The concerning scenes surrounding Zarbo come after steeplechase world record holder Lamecha Girma was hospitalised after tripping on a barrier and falling hard onto the track on Wednesday.
He was motionless on the track as medics put him in a neck brace and carried him off on a stretcher.
He later regained consciousness and is understood to be communicating with doctors and members of Team Ethiopia.
Another worrying incident occurred on Thursday when Germany star Sophie Weissenberg was taken off in a wheelchair.
She suffered a freak injury while warming up for the 110m hurdles in the heptathlon.
Weissenberg immediately fell to the ground clutching her ankle and appeared to know her Olympics were over.
She was reduced to tears as she left the track with an apparent Achilles injury.