sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Fans convinced Olympic athletes were 'caught cheating' on live TV during event at 2024 Games in Paris

Home> Other

Updated 13:02 1 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 11:17 1 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Fans convinced Olympic athletes were 'caught cheating' on live TV during event at 2024 Games in Paris

The alleged rule-breaking took place in the men's 20km walking race.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Olympic viewers are convinced that several athletes broke the rules in an event at the 2024 Games in Paris after seeing new TV footage.

Fans on social media claim several participants cheated in the 20km men's walking race on Thursday morning, the first athletics event to take place at the Games.

Ecuador's Brian Daniel Pintado took gold in the event, finishing with a time of 1:18:55 to win the first medal for an Ecuadorian athlete in Paris.

Brazil's Caoi Bonfim took silver with a time of 1:19:09 while Spain's Alvaro Martin followed closely behind at 1:19:11 to take the bronze medal.

Advert

Footage circulating on social media after the race appears to show several athletes breaching the rules of the walking race.

In a clip originally posted on Reddit, several athletes can be seen leaving the ground with both feet.

According to World Athletics, athletes must have one foot in contact with the floor at all times during the 20km walk race.

Failure to do this is known as 'lifting' and is against the rules.

Fans were quick to spot a number of participants seemingly breaking this rule during the men's event.

"They all do it. Thats why the tactic now is to hide in the pack until their final push," one fan commented on Reddit.

While another added: "Every single one of them is cheating."

However, another user pointed out that the athletes may not have technically broken the rules due to the wording of the regulations.

"It's very simple. The rule is it must be visible to the naked eye - not slow motion replays," they commented.

The men's 20km walking race (
Eurosport)

While another fan added: "They're allowed to have millisecond 'no contact' because they are judged by eye, not by slow-mo camera."

Another fan questioned why the sport's governing bodies had yet to come up with a more modern solution to regulating the sport, rather than relying on the naked eye of officials.

"If technically available, it would be good to install sensors on the shoes to see if their feet are above the ground and for how long," suggested the fan.

While another added: "Imagine being a judge. Did you do your job? Well no. And how many do they need in a 20k race if they have to observe it live?"

Featured Image Credit: Eurosport

Topics: Olympics, Athletics, Fan Reactions

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
4 days ago
5 days ago
  •  (Instagram/maraflavia)
    a day ago

    Influencer who drowned during triathlon ignored friends' plea before death

    Mara Flávia Araujo died while competing in Texas Ironman this weekend.

    Other
  • ESPN
    a day ago

    NHL Coach showered with broken glass from fan during playoff game

    "Choice words" were had between the coaching staff and the fan who did this.

    Other
  • Getty
    4 days ago

    Max Verstappen pays tribute after Juha Miettinen dies in Nurburgring crash as FIA issue statement

    Veteran driver Juha Miettinen was killed in a multi-car crash.

    Other
  • Getty
    5 days ago

    Racing driver Juha Miettinen killed in tragic Nurburgring crash

    A major crash took place during the 24 Hours of Nurburgring Qualifiers Race 1.

    Other
  • Optical illusion foam exercise mats that look like wooden floorboards are perfect for your home gym
  • Viewers slam 'mistake' in BBC's coverage of 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony
  • Olympic athlete vomits on live TV after being made to swim in polluted river at Paris Games
  • Why are Olympic skateboarders so young at 2024 Games in Paris?