Racewalker Loses Medal Position in European Championships Due to Premature Celebration
A Spanish racewalker learned the hard way not to hot dog before crossing the finish line … ’cause she was too busy celebrating to realize she was getting passed — and ended up missing out on securing a medal!!
The hilarious moment went down right at the end of the women’s 20km race walk at the 2024 European Athletics Championships … when Laura Garcia-Caro had a comfortable third-place position as she approached the finish line.
đŻLa cara de Laura GarcĂa-Caro lo dice todo.
DespuĂ©s de 20km se le escapa la medalla ante sus narices. pic.twitter.com/KMxWSzDu32â Ălvaro Coll – JJOO (@AlvaroColl_) June 7, 2024
@AlvaroColl_
Or so she thought.
In the broadcast footage of the race, Garcia-Caro is seen smiling from ear to ear with the Spanish flag wrapped around her neck … and as soon as she raises her hand to commemorate the podium finish, Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska scoots right past her to snag the bronze.
Garcia-Caro’s face is absolutely priceless as she eats Olyanovska’s dust … looking devastated as she finally completes the event.
The finish has caused quite the controversy, though … as both walkers appear to have both feet off the ground down the stretch — AKA, running.
Fans have taken notice to the apparent rule-breaking … but as of right now, it appears they both got off scot-free.
Olyanovska was awarded the third-place finish … and Garcia-Caro’s party was cut short.
We take it she learned her lesson.