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After his relief effort, Nahuel Carabaña finishes a lonely race over a 3000 meter obstacle
Photo:
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
In 3000-meter steeplechase events, falls are common at the moat.
In the run-up to the European Athletics Championships, Axel Vang Christensen got it. After two thirds of the race, the Dane was at the front of the field with good prospects.
Christensen apparently injured himself and remained lying on the track with a pained face.
The rest of the field passed Christensen, including Andorran Nahuel Carabaña.
But suddenly the 22-year-old looked back and decided to stop.
Carabaña went back to the moat and helped Christensen off the track.
Carabaña gave up the chance of reaching the final.
His personal best is 8:32.03 minutes, with a comparable time the Andorran record holder could have reached the final over 3000 meters obstacle course.
Italy's Osama Zoghlami won the heat in 8:30.67 minutes ahead of Germany's Karl Bebendorf (8:31.67).
Carabaña's rescue lasted more than 30 seconds before he resumed his race.
With the rest of the field already at the finish line, he headed down the homestretch, finishing more than a minute behind Zoghlami in 9:37.74 by Carabaña.
The spectators in Munich's Olympic Stadium cheered Carabaña for his fairness action.
"That's awesome, respect," said DLV athlete Bebendorf on ARD when he was asked about Carabaña's help.
During the race, Bebendorf didn't notice anything: "I wondered why there was this applause."
kra
