August 6th 2024.
Lina Nielsen's journey at the Olympic Games came to a heartbreaking end as she failed to qualify for the finals of the 400m hurdles. The Team GB star, who has been battling multiple sclerosis, could not hold back her tears as she shared her struggles after crashing into the final barrier during the semi-finals in Paris.
The 28-year-old had high hopes of making it to the main event, but her dreams were shattered as she stumbled and fell during her race. She managed to get back up and finish the race, but unfortunately, she came in last with a time of 1:31.22. Jamaica's Rushell Clayton and USA's Jasmine Jones were the ones who advanced to the finals.
Photos captured the devastated Nielsen, visibly exhausted and on the verge of tears, as the reality of her situation sunk in at the Stade de France. In the second semi-final, defending Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone qualified for the finals along with current world champion Femke Bol, setting up an exciting showdown in the French capital.
In an interview right after her fall, Nielsen expressed her disappointment and revealed that she had truly believed she would make it to the finals. She also opened up about her concerns for her health leading up to the race, as she had previously suffered a relapse just two days before the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
Heartbreakingly, this was not the first time Nielsen had publicly shared her struggles with MS. With tears in her eyes, she explained, "I'm fighting every single day to try and get here. I really believed I could make the final which was why I was really fighting. It's just disappointing it had to end that way. I would have loved to end on a personal best."
She went on to reveal that she had been anxious about being in the Olympic village, surrounded by people during the ongoing pandemic, and was worried that it could lead to another relapse. Despite the disappointment, Nielsen tried to find solace in the fact that she had made it to the semi-finals, something she couldn't do in her last major championship.
As she struggled to contain her emotions, Radzi Chinyanganya from Eurosport came to her side, offering his support and a comforting arm around her shoulder. "It's been tough," Nielsen said, before breaking down and putting her head in her hands. "Ten years ago, I had to learn how to walk again," she added, highlighting the immense challenges she has faced in her journey as an athlete with MS.
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