Medal for determination! Brave French athlete suffers a VERY embarrassing stomach problem and collapses in 50km race...but still gets up and tries to finish
- Yohann Diniz, the world record holder in the event, was leading the field
- Camera picked up on him as he began to struggle about 45 minutes in
- It had been reported he was suffering from a bad stomach in the lead up
- He collapsed by the roadside shortly after, giving up the lead in the race
A French athlete collapsed during the 50km walk after suffering from stomach trouble - only to get back to his feet and finish the race.
Yohann Diniz, the world record holder in the event, was leading the field in the 45th minute when a camera picked up on him beginning to struggle.
A dark liquid starting trickling down the back of Diniz's legs after he apparently defecated during the race.
An hour or so later he collapsed to the floor, lying there motionless for a few seconds before dragging himself to his feet and soldiering on.
A French athlete collapsed during the 50km walk after suffering from stomach trouble - only to get back to his feet and finish the race
Diniz collapsed to the floor, lying there motionless for a few seconds before dragging himself to his feet and continuing on
Diniz was spotted by cameras struggling in the race about 45 minutes in and apparently defecated during the race
Diniz pauses against a barrier once again, shortly after collapsing about two and a half hours into the race
It had been reported by French publication L'Équipe that race favourite Diniz had been suffering from a bad stomach in the lead up to the event.
Shortly afterwards, and with more than a minute's lead, the athlete collapsed by the roadside, allowing others to pass.
In a moment of solidarity, the man going in to the lead, Canada's Evan Dunfee, picked up the fallen athlete back to his feet as they continued with the race
Despite the Frenchman's best efforts, he finished outside the medal positions, eventually finishing in eighth place.
Diniz has never made it to the podium of a world championships or Olympic Games in 20km, his best performance being a silver medal over 50km at the 2007 world championships.
He had to withdraw from the starting line at Beijing 2008 after feeling pain in both his leg and his stomach.
Gold medalist Yohann Diniz stands on the podium at the European Championships in 2014 (left). He's also seen competing at today's event (right)
Yohann Diniz of France uses a sponge to cool off during the men's 50km race walk
It had been reported by French publication L'Équipe that race favourite Diniz had been suffering from a bad stomach in the lead up to the event
Diniz has never made it to the podium of a world championships or Olympic Games in 20km, his best performance being a silver medal over 50km at the 2007 world championships
Four years later his Olympic dream would falter again, after he was disqualified halfway through the race in London for drinking outside of a specified zone.
Despite his bad luck on the world scene, the Frenchman has won the last three 50km walk race events at the European Championships
The incident conjures up memories of when Paula Radcliffe had to stop a few miles away from the finishing line of the London Marathon in 2005.
The Brit went on to win the race but was forced to squat by the side of the road at the 22-mile mark after reacting badly to a dodgy pre-race meal.
Following the race, Paula explained how the unexpectedly pit-stop was an 'embarrassing necessity'.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3749031/An-unfortunate-case-runs-French-athlete-t-wait-toilet-halfway-50km-walk-race-continues-anyway.html#ixzz4HqUWxMLL
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