The men’s 5,000m race turned into a scene of chaos today as Team GB’s George Mills faced a dramatic turn of events.
In the final lap of the heat, Mills, who is the son of former Premier League defender Danny Mills, found himself in the midst of a commotion. He was one of four runners who ended up on the ground during a frantic sprint to the finish.
Mills was running in the middle of the pack when a collision with a rival caused him to fall.
After crossing the line in 18th place, he headed straight for his French competitor, Hugo Hay, and began to push him aggressively.
Despite the clash, Mills was advanced to the next round by the race referee. Mills claimed that the collision was the main reason he didn’t qualify. Replay footage seemed to show Hay pushing Mills into the path of other runners, leading to his dramatic fall.
Mills expressed his frustration to the BBC, saying, “I got stepped out on as I was about to kick on the home straight and boom, the French lad took me down.”
When asked about his post-race comments to Hay, Mills cryptically responded, “I probably wouldn’t be allowed to say.”
Mills was disappointed with how the race unfolded, noting, “From my perspective, that was the perfect qualifier for me. Going through the first 2,000 in six minutes, I thought nobody in this field could run away from me at that pace.”
He added that he was ready to make his move on the home straight when the incident occurred. “What can you do?” he sighed.
In response, Hay claimed that he was the one who was shoved and felt that he didn’t push Mills intentionally. He mentioned, “Everybody was pushing each other and I didn’t think I put my shoulder into him.” Hay also noted that Mills approached him angrily after the race.
Additional Controversies
The race was further marred by controversy, including a cameraman who obstructed the runners on the track.
Former Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram, who was commentating for the BBC, criticized Mills for being in a poor position throughout the race. “George was in a bad position from a long way out.
He should have checked out much earlier,” Cram said. He added that Mills’ push on the home straight would be interesting for the race officials to review.
A Tough Race for Many
The race saw additional falls from Refugee Olympic Team athlete Dominic Lobalu and Dutch runner Mike Foppen. Foppen appeared to injure his head during the fall and was seen holding it as he crossed the finish line.
Despite the chaotic finish, all four athletes who fell were granted a reprieve and given a spot in the final.