- Matthew Clarke finished last in the steeplechase
- Australian athlete required medical attention
- It later turned out that he had been fighting a virus
Australian national champion Matthew Clarke has been called ‘brave’ after competing in the Olympics with a virus.
Clarke, 29, collapsed on the track in Paris after finishing last in the heats of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, clearly in distress after the gruelling race.
His teammate Ben Buckingham, who also failed to qualify, later told Nine that Clarke had been suffering from a virus in the run-up to his race.
“That’s just so brave. He suffered all the way, the Australian national champion, Matthew Clarke, but he was determined to finish here in Paris and finish he did,” Nine’s Gerard Whateley said as Clarke crossed the finish line.
‘He has now fallen on the track. I suspect he remained on his feet the whole way, because he kept sinking further and further.’
“But in its own way, it’s blood, sweat and tears.”
Matthew Clarke struggled in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, finishing last before needing medical attention. He was later found to have a virus
Whateley later announced that Clarke required medical attention after the race.
‘We have been told that after his heat he was taken to the medical department and has been cleared to return to the warm-up track where he is being monitored by Australian medical staff.
“So that’s the best news we could have hoped for, given what we’ve all seen together.”