August 10th 2024.
During the Olympic women's 10,000m final at Paris 2024, all eyes were on Rahel Daniel as she took the lead. But suddenly, she veered off the track in a bizarre manner, leaving BBC commentators baffled. At the 2,000m mark, Daniel seemed to be in control, but then she stumbled, raised her hand to her face, and spat before walking off the track.
As she tried to leave the stadium, Olympic officials stopped the 22-year-old Eritrean and made her walk around the side of the circuit. It was unclear why Daniel had wandered off, but some suggested that humidity issues may have forced her to withdraw early. Meanwhile, the commentators continued to speculate as the race went on, with Kenya's Beatrice Chebet eventually taking the gold medal.
Daniel had high hopes for the race, having finished fifth at the World Athletics Championships two years ago. However, she was not the only runner to pull out mid-race. Frenchwoman Alessia Zarbo also had to exit after falling over, causing gasps from the home crowd. But Chebet was able to stay strong and claim the gold medal, with Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan and Italy's Nadia Battocletti taking the silver and bronze respectively.
For Chebet, this was a momentous win, as she had also won the 5,000m race just a few days earlier. In an interview after the race, she described the 10,000m gold medal as the most important one in her life. She had come to Paris with the specific goal of winning this event, not the 5,000m. It was no easy feat to compete in both races, but Chebet remained focused and believed in herself.
As she stood on the podium, Chebet reflected on her journey and her country, saying, "I came here targeting the 10,000m gold medal, not a gold in the 5,000m. To do both is not easy, but I just stayed focused and believed in myself. My country was watching me, so I had to focus on the 10,000m and not let the 5,000m gold distract me. That was my target." It was a proud moment for Chebet and her country, as she proved that with determination and self-belief, anything is possible.
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