British Olympic Runner Collapses After 10,000m Final

A British runner collapsed after competing in the 10,000m final at the Olympic Games.

Jessica Judd had to be picked up off the track after finishing the gruelling race in the searing Tokyo heat today.

Temperatures in the stadium reportedly went well above 90F (32C), with 80 percent humidity.

The 26-year-old finished 17th in the long-distance final but fell dramatically to the ground after crossing the line.

Medics quickly rushed to her aid, administering ice packs, which they applied to her head, and helping her into a wheelchair.

She was eventually pulled back onto her feet and led away from the track to rehydrate, with team-mate Eilish McColgan bringing her a bottle of water.

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Speaking to Eurosport, Judd said she was in 'desperate need' of water.

She told the channel: "That is the closest I've come to not finished. When it gets to you, it gets to you.

"I was desperate for water, I've never been this sweaty in my life."

McColgan added: "It's definitely one of the hardest races I've ever run in my life. I couldn't have done much more.

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"Those girls at the front, it's absolutely incredible they can run those times in this weather."

This is the second time at the games that Judd has collapsed following a run.

Last week, she dramatically fell to the track after finishing 13th in the 5,000 prelims.

Speaking after the race, she told Eurosport: "I'm just so disappointed I didn't have it. I put myself out there but with about a kilometre to go, I didn't have it in my legs.

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"I just didn't kick on when I needed to. It wasn't like I didn't do what I was told or knew what I needed to do, I just couldn't do it."

Judd crossed the line in 15:09.47, which was three seconds down a personal best she ran in California back in May.

She added: "It's still a world standard for next year so that's good so I got something out of it, but I just couldn't get my legs going.

"I need to try and recover between now and the 10,000, see if I can use that as a run out and see if I can get back in the right shape."

Topics: Water, olympic games, Final, Athletics, Japan, Health

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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