French runner reveals what he said to Team GB star who squared up to him after shocking track incident
The French Olympic runner involved in an incident during the men's 5,000 metre race has spoken about what happened.
Chaos erupted at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday (7 August), when a total of five athletes found themselves face down on the track, after an incident left several runners stumbling on top of each other.
The athletes were on the final stretch of the first heat, when the race took a sudden turn.
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Team GB's George Mills was left struggling on the floor, and ended up squaring up to French runner Hugo Hay after the race was finished.
Footage from the incident appears to show Hay and Mills caught up with each other as the runners went on to the final straight, with Mills then tumbling alongside four others.
Hay has now spoken out about what happened, saying he 'hopes he didn't do anything' that could lead to him being disqualified.
He also said that if he had done anything wrong, he would apologise.
"I'm really surprised. I just hope that I didn't do anything and I will not be disqualified," he said.
"For me, that was nothing. Like I said to George, I will watch the images and if I'm the guy that did it, I will apologize. For me, I didn't do anything. I just hope that I can go in the final."
🇬🇧 George Mills was NOT happy with one of his fellow 5000m competitors 😡#Olympics #Paris2024 #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/OQ7tODFkpK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024
Meanwhile, Mills also discussed the incident afterwards, explaining what he believes happened.
"Coming into the home straight in was tucked into the inside on the last lap, where I wanted to be because I knew some sort of gap would open up... It was clear," he recalled.
"I don't know if you guys could see it on the TV. Look, I wouldn't go for a gap if it wasn't there. That would be a pretty dumb strategy...I pulled onto the outside and there was space."
He added: "I got stepped out on...then boom, the French lad took me down!"
When asked what he said to Hay, Mills said: "I'm probably not allowed to say.
"It was a perfect qualifier for me. I was thinking nobody in this field can keep up with me and then bang hit the deck. But what can you do?"
🗣 "I got stepped out on...then boom, the French lad took me down!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024
🇬🇧 George Mills isn't pleased about the chaotic end to his 5000m heat 😤#Olympics #Paris2024 #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/5zfNZ52YAX
Hay didn't fall during the incident and ended up qualifying for the final, taking up the seventh qualification spot.
Mills is hopeful that following an appeal, he will also be advanced to the final.
LADbible has reached to Team GB for comment.
Lucy Devine