Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma marked a stunning return to competition on Friday night, June 20, by winning the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Paris Diamond League.
Running at Stade Charléty, Girma clocked a season-best 8:07.01 to secure victory in his first race back after suffering a serious fall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The race was part of a non-Diamond League event held during the Paris meet. Hpowever, it carried deep personal significance for the 24-year-old world record holder. Lamecha Girma was competing for the first time since his horrific accident. The accident happened last August where he fell over the final hurdle in the Olympic final. He had to be stretchered off the track in a neck brace.
Ten months later, Girma returned to the same city where his Olympic dreams were crushed. The return however this time, was to reclaim his place among the sport’s elite.
“Ten months after falling at the Olympics, this win was huge for me,” Girma said after the race. “I was very scared before the race. Thank you everybody!”
It was a composed and confident performance by the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, who broke the world record in this event just last year. In Paris, he surged ahead of the field with ease, edging out Salaheddine Ben Yazide from Morocco.
The victory, signals a successful comeback. It also positions him as a top contender heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season more so the Word Athletics Championships in Tokyo.