Losing a shoe won’t keep Etenesh Diro from steeplechase final

Sara fell in the race – was brought down by another athlete – and, apparently, due to pushing and barging, she has has been re-instated and will now compete in the final of 3,000m steeplechase.

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) – Ethiopia’s Etenesh Diro won the hearts of Olympic athletics fans by completing her 3,000-metre steeplechase heat with one shoe after a fall – and also those of competition judges who advanced her into the final an hour later on Saturday.

Diro was in tears after finishing seventh, which would not be enough to book a place in the final on Monday, but her medal hopes are still alive following an appeal. For precious seconds, the Ethiopian athlete knelt on the track and tried to pull the shoe back on.

Reflecting on the incident afterwards, Treacy said: “I caught up with the back of the pack and someone just stopped and everyone ran into the back of them”.

Praught, Treacy and several other runners zoomed past Diro, who eventually got up and finished the race wearing a shoe only on her left foot. She thought she had missed out in disappointment as competitors offered their support.

An appeal was launched with the case being heard by the track referee and the IAAF’s Jury of Appeal shortly after a video review.

Michelle Finn joined O’Flaherty in missing out on a place in the final as she clocked 9:49.45 to finish 11th in her heat.

Do you admire her determination?