St. Catharines native Moh Ahmed suffers tough Olympics loss

Canadian Moh Ahmed’s hopes of earning a second Olympic medal in the men’s 5,000-metre were crushed, after he suffered a fall on Wednesday in a heat where several runners went down.

The 33-year-old finished 16th in his heat and 35th overall, after getting tangled in a group of runners who fell. Ahmed’s fall happened just before the end of his second-to-last lap.

CBC Olympics reported the athlete’s subsequent appeal was denied.

Athletics Canada said in a statement to CBC Olympics Ahmed clipped the ankle of an athlete in front of him, making the fall “his responsibility.”

The four others who also fell in the race advanced to this weekend’s final, following referee review.

The Olympic athlete won silver in the same event in Tokyo.

Fellow Canadian runner Thomas Fafard competed in the 5,000-metre event as well, and qualified for the final.

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