Revealed: What George Mills informed French rival in post-race rant
- Mills appeared to receive a push from Frenchman Hugo Hay in the closing stages
- It led to a mass collision with Mills and three other runners hitting the deck
- Mills told the BBC he couldn’t tell them what he had told Hay after the race
Fresh details have emerged of what George Mills told French rival Hugo Hay after the Team GB star was left fuming after their 5,000m heat on Wednesday morning.
Mills, the son of former England footballer Danny, angrily confronted Hay, who he felt caused a mass collision on the final straight of the race.
Replays showed Hay appearing to give Mills a slight push which led to a collision involving three other competitors.
The Team GB runner squared up to Hay and voiced his displeasure, before telling the BBC that he ‘probably wouldn’t be allowed’ to tell them what he said to the Frenchman.
Expert lipreader Jeremy Freeman told Mail Sport that on his way to approaching Hay, Mills when pointing at his French rival exclaimed: ‘You f***ing clown.’
A lipreader has revealed that George Mills exclaimed ‘you f***ing clown’ as he confronted Hugo Hay following the controversial ending to the 5,000 metre heat this morning
Fresh details have emerged over Mills’ furious rant towards his French rival after the race
Mills felt that a shove from Hay led to a mass collision he was involved in on the final straight
Mills appeared to receive a shove from Hay leading to a collision with Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo
Hay responds to Mills as the Team GB star approaches him and gives him a push while doubling down, stating: ‘You f***ing did.’
Mills then twice responded ‘yes you did’, after his rival insisted he didn’t push.
Hay then adds: ‘No it was not me’, before adding ‘ah come on’ after Mills turned his back on the 27-year-old, also removing the Frenchman’s hand from his shoulder.
Mills appeared to be nudged into the path of Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, with both going down after tangling legs.
Refugee Olympic Team athlete Dominic Lobalu and Dutchman Mike Foppen also went to the ground as they didn’t have time to respond to the collision ahead of them. Foppen appeared to land on the back of his head when he hit the ground and was seen holding onto it after he crossed the line.
Fortunately for all four athletes that hit the deck in the collision, they were given a post-race reprieve as officials handed them a spot in the final.
Hay will also be in the race as he finished seventh, with no disqualification handed to the 27-year-old.
When asked to explain by the BBC what happened, Mills said: ‘I think it’s pretty clear. I got stepped out on as I was about to kick on the home straight and boom, the French lad took me down.’
Mills tangled legs and fell hard to the ground on the finishing straight of the 5,000m heat
Dominic Lobalu of the Refugee Olympic Team and Dutchman Mike Foppen had no time to react and also hit the deck – with the latter landing on the back of their head
He went on to add: ‘From my perspective that was the perfect qualifier for me. Going through the first 2,000 in six minutes. I was like ‘alright – nobody in this field can run away from me at this pace’.
‘So I was just sitting, waiting and biding my time, gonna kick off down the home straight and bang hit the deck. What can you do?’
Meanwhile, Hay in his post-race interview, said: For me, that was nothing. Like I said to George, I will watch the images and if I’m the guy that did it, I will apologise. For me, I didn’t do anything, I just hope that I can go in the final.’
