The women's final of the 5000m at the European Championships went the way of the Netherlands' Sifan Hassan after a marvelous run from the Dutch athlete.
However, in a scenario that even the seasoned George Hamilton claimed never to have seen before, Israel's Lonah Salpeter committed an atrocious error at the conclusion of the penultimate lap.
Believing to have finished the race with one lap still remaining, Hamilton summed up the only excuse Salpeter could muster:
I cannot recall anything quite as dramatic as that ... I think she thought she was chasing for the medal ... and she thought she'd got silver, and then the bell rang.
In the replayed footage of the race from an alternative angle, Satpeter can be seen clearly pulling up to celebrate what she believed was her silver medal success.
Taking a few seconds to realise that the race still had one lap left to run, the athlete had all but reached a stand-still and, when she began to move again, it was clear to see that her momentum had been shot. Having chased down Hassan for what she thought was a chance of nicking the gold medal, Salpeter's energy sources was all but exhausted.
Recovering somewhat well, Salpeter nevertheless could do no better than finish 4th. Absolutely devestated after the race's actual conclusion, Salpeter collapsed on the near-by grass.
You can watch the bizarre scene play out below.
Watch the extraordinary moment Kenyan-born Lonah Chemtai Salpeter miscalculates in the 5000m final and believes she has won silver for Israel - only to suddenly realise she has only entered the bell lap #EuropeanChampionships #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/yoLRnyDCyH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2018
Got to feel sorry for Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel, the 10,000m champion, who just crashed out of the medals in the 5,000m after thinking the race was a lap shorter. Seems to be in a lot of distress. Terrible to watch. #EuropeanChampionships
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) August 12, 2018
Incredible scenes in the women's 5,000m. The Israeli athlete Lornah Chemtai Salpeter celebrates, thinking she has won silver - but there is one lap to go ... Eilish McColgan takes advantage to come second behind Sifan Hassan. And poor Salpeter ends up fourth
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) August 12, 2018
Israeli 5000m runner Salpeter stops running at the bell and celebrates winning silver. Realises there are 400 metres to go and takes off again, eventually collapsing over the line in 4th.
Still runs national record— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) August 12, 2018
Just caught the end of that 5000m women's race and the Salpeter gaffe. Wow, what a shocker!
— Shane Stapleton (@ShaneSaint) August 12, 2018
