Aussie sprinter Michelle Jenneke is sent flying during nasty fall in the 100m hurdles – and then nearly trips over the very next one in nightmare race
- Michelle Jenneke had a nasty fall this morning during the 100m hurdles series
- She got back up and almost immediately fell over the next hurdle
- Jenneke has completed the race, which means she gets a second attempt in the repechage
Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke suffered a nasty fall during the 100m heats on Wednesday morning.
The 31-year-old ran the third heat and had a strong start in the first two hurdles, but in the third heat she hit her right leg hard.
She immediately lost her balance after colliding with the hurdle, was thrown forward and landed hard on her left side.
Jenneke quickly got up and attempted the next hurdle, on the track of the runner to her right.
However, a second disaster almost struck when she failed to make the required run-up to the hurdle and knocked it down but was able to stay on her feet and continue the race.
Australian Michelle Jenneke suffered a nasty fall during the 100m hurdles heats
She knocked over the hurdle but went down after losing her balance and landing hard on her side
It meant compensation for any chance she had of progressing from the race to the next round of hurdles.
Jenneke then kicked over the next hurdle, but was able to stay on her feet and continue
She was able to finish the race and will get a second chance in the repechage for the hurdles.
She made it to the finish line and by completing the race, she will compete in the repechage later today, meaning she has a second chance to qualify.
Although she finished the race in a different lane to where she started, the Australian will not be disqualified.
This was because the lane in which the athlete finished the race had long passed her and Jenneke did not interfere with their race.
Jenneke won silver at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships, qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
She has also won hearts with her signature warm-up dance before competitions.
One version of the video has been viewed 27 million times on YouTube and made headlines worldwide.
She set a personal best of 12.65 for the Games. With this time she could have qualified for the next round without having to do a repechage.
She finished in the lane of one of her competitors, but will not be disqualified as she did not interfere with their race.
Jenneke’s PB of 12.65 would have been good enough to qualify for her heat
Jenneke is Australia’s second fastest 100m hurdler after Sally Pearson and has won hearts with her signature dance that she performs before competitions
Jenneke enjoyed a successful modelling career, including a major sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola and an appearance on Top Gear.
This time makes her the second-fastest Australian hurdler ever, after Sally Pearson, whose time of 12.28 set in 2011 still stands as the national record.
Her series was won by American star Masai Russell who finished in a time of 12.53.