NBC Sports shares new update on Lamecha Girma after injury in 3,000-meter Steeplechase

Amid a thrilling finish in the men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase there was also a significant injury, as Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma clipped a hurdle during the final lap and collapsed hard onto the track.

Girma lost consciousness and was put onto a backboard with a neck immobilizer before he was transported to the hospital. He eventually regained consciousness.

On Thursday morning, NBC correspondent Shannon Rowbury provided an update on his health.

“We’ve gotten updates from his coach that he is doing better,” Rowbury said. “He is at the hospital still. They have done the first, most important scan on his head, everything looks good there. They still need to do further scans on his leg, likely his right leg that hit that 200-pound steeple barrier to make sure that that’s OK. That’s the latest that we know as of the morning after the race. Safe thoughts and prayers for Girma.”

Things intensified quickly in the final lap of the race, as American Kenneth Rooks made a mad dash at the gold with the last of his energy. It caused the whole field to pick up pace and might have been part of what threw Girma off.

But it also meant there were track spikes flying overhead as Lamecha Girma lay motionless on the deck.

A scary moment, to be sure.

Rowbury re-ran through the scenario in setting up the scene to discuss the Lamecha Girma injury with the update provided above.

“Last night we had a crazy final, everything was business as usual until the last 400 meters of the race when Kenneth Rooks of America took off like crazy through everyone, a big surprise,” Rowbury said. “Over the last 400 meters, he was pushing so hard so much down the back-stretch that the favorites of the race, (Soufiane) El Bakkali and Girma, had to sprint to try to catch him. It seemed like they might overtake Rooks until disaster struck with 250 meters to go when Girma, the world record holder in the steeplechase, fell on the track so hard that he couldn’t get up for minutes and was even unconscious.”

It was one of the scariest scenes at this year’s Olympics, one that will be burned into the memory of many of the competitors there. Hopefully, though, Lamecha Girma can pull through without any long-lasting side effects.

“It was a long time on the track,” Rowbury said. “The medical staff had to come put him on a stretcher, put him on a neck brace. It was a heart-breaking scene as victory and celebrations were happening at the finish line. We all were praying and hoping that Girma would be OK.”