Enlarge image
Hurdler Happio after the attack
Photo: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
At the French Athletics Championships in Caen, hurdler Wilfried Happio was attacked by a stranger shortly before his race and injured his face.
As the sports newspaper "L'Equipe" reported, the 23-year-old was attacked while warming up for the final over 400 meters hurdles.
"There was an incident during the warm-up with someone who threw themselves on him and hit him," Happio's coach Olivier Vallaeys is quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The coach overpowered the attacker himself and alerted the police.
Happio was then treated, despite a bloody nose and a poorly treated eye injury, the attacked started just a good quarter of an hour later.
With a patch on his left eye and a headband pulled over it, the Frenchman not only defended his championship title from 2019, but also set a personal best of 48.57 seconds.
Over time, Happio also met the norm for the World Championships, which will be held July 15-24 in Eugene, USA.
The French Athletics Federation has confirmed that the hurdler's attacker has been identified and is in custody.
According to L'Equipe, the attacker is said to be the brother of an acquaintance of Happio.
cev/dpa