athletics
Runner Krause after European Championship silver: Emotional rollercoaster ride
Gesa Krause is happy about her European silver medal in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
For Gesa Felicitas Krause, the European Championship race over 3000 meters steeplechase is still a stressful time. She congratulates the Frenchwoman Finot on her victory. The German association explains what happened.
The European Championship runner-up After the night’s back and forth, Gesa Felicitas Krause is happy that the result of the 3000 meter steeplechase race is now final. Winner Alice Finot from France was temporarily disqualified on Sunday evening in Rome for leaving the track and was put back in first place ahead of Krause after a French protest.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me. I am happy that the result is now as it is and that the sporting aspect takes priority. I came in second, Alice Finot deservedly won gold,” said the 31-year-old in a statement from the German Athletics Association.
This also shows that the DLV itself did not lodge a protest against the score. Sports director Jörg Bügner said that they had received indications that a rule violation had occurred. These indications were followed up and a request for video access was made to the European Athletics Federation.
“However, we did not get around to checking because in the meantime a referee had examined the situation and disqualified the Frenchwoman for repeatedly entering the inside lane. The French association then lodged a protest. The jury examined this and ruled in favor of the French team,” explained Bügner.
At 12:25 a.m., the French association announced Finot as the winner of the race on Platform X. The 33-year-old had also previously been at the top of the European Athletics Federation’s winners’ list.
Finot won after 9:16.22 minutes ahead of two-time European champion Krause. The 31-year-old came in second after 9:18.06 minutes and won the medal she had been hoping for in her comeback after the birth of her daughter.