Aussie in stunning development after his event was hit by the most STUPID act of the Paris Olympics
Australian runner Stewart McSweyn was caught up in the chaos of the men’s 5,000 metres at the Paris Olympics, dealing with falls, fits of rage and a bizarre incident with an inattentive cameraman.
The event was already very dramatic after four athletes, including British runner George Mills (son of former English footballer Danny), fell on the straight of the first heat.
Mills was riding well until he was involved in an altercation with Frenchman Hugo Hay and fell. The British star came face to face with Hay at the finish, having qualified 18th.
Australian runner Stewart McSweyn managed to avoid the chaos and stay on his feet, but still failed to qualify.
However, he has appealed the decision as the drama delayed him and the judges have allowed him to race in the final on Sunday morning (AEDT).
“Olympic final Saturday night,” McSweyn posted on social media after the news broke.
Meanwhile, something strange happened in the second heat when a group of runners started the final four laps.
As the athletes headed toward the straight, a cameraman walked across the track to the edge, unaware that he was disrupting the race.
Australian runner Stewart McSweyn (pictured top in green and gold) has won his appeal to compete in the 5000m final after a chaotic fall during his heat
Several runners crashed on the final straight of the first heat and the shocking scenes prevented the Australian from setting the time he is capable of
He seemed completely shocked as the participants ran past him and almost collided with him, leading to dangerous situations.
Fortunately, the cameraman, who had his film equipment with him, saw his mistake and prevented a pile-up on the track, which forced many athletes to take evasive action.
Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen was one of the runners who became enraged when he pointed at the cameraman as he ran past.
“It’s amateurish,” Ingebrigtsen said later. “That shouldn’t happen at the Olympics.
“I was just far enough out front to see something happen. He’s got a pretty big camera rig. He caught on pretty quickly, but the damage is done. Some people’s race is ruined.”
During the bizarre incident, it appeared as if the cameraman was focusing on the women’s javelin qualifying event, which was taking place at the same time. It turned out to be another major blunder by the organizers of the Paris Olympics.
The Australian star appealed the ruling over the carnage and the jury allowed him to race in the final on Sunday morning.
The 5000m heats at the Olympics experienced more disruptions due to a cameraman interrupting a race
Ingebrigtsen won the heat, with Ethiopian Biniam Mehary and Belgian Isaac Kimeli in the top three. Only one runner fell during the race.
In the earlier heat, in which Mills was one of four men to fall after a collision, the Team GB star faced Frenchman Hay at the finish.
The two were filmed arguing and making physical contact, with Mills angrily pointing at Hay and expressing his anger in an interview with the BBC shortly afterwards.
“I think it’s pretty clear,” he said. “I got run over when I was going to score the home straight and boom, the French guy took me down.
When asked what he said when he confronted Hay: ‘I’m probably not allowed to say that.’
When asked if he had spoken to officials, he said: ‘I haven’t seen anyone but I’m sure BA (British Athletics) will appeal, I hope.’
‘From my perspective this was the perfect qualification for me, I ran the first 2 kilometers in six minutes.
“I thought, ‘Nobody on this field can run away from me at this pace,’ so I was just waiting, biding my time, hitting the home ball and then I hit the ground. What can you do?’
Mills won his appeal and was awarded a place in the 5000m final.