Portugal’s Etson Barros completed the 3000m hurdles at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome this Saturday, facing difficulties due to the loss of his shoes, and was eliminated in the semi-finals.
“I started the race well, but they stopped me at the start. On the next lap I tried to get ahead so as not to be in the pack and not to end up too far behind where it was difficult for me. I risked disqualification by swerving away from the Belgian athlete and ended up losing my boot when the German stepped on me,” explained the Benfica athlete “in the mixed zone of the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
Etson Barros finished the second round of qualifying in 14th place in 8:55.33 minutes, covering almost half the distance barefoot on his left foot, even considering stopping and slowing down in the ditch area.
“Then I felt a little ‘shock’ [enquanto aponta para a sola do pé, escaldada pelo tartan] and it started to feel like a wound. I didn’t want to give up because it’s not part of my personality. It’s a rewarding experience! I think I need to run with a bigger head,” he explained.
The top eight players from each qualification advanced to the final, with the 23-year-old from Benfica admitting that was his goal after finishing 16th and his first outside the final at the Munich 2022 European Championship.
“I came with the goal of running quickly and reaching the final, without really thinking about the place. I left sad, but with my head held high,” he emphasized, assuring that the search for the lost shoe was useful. easy.
José Regalo has the best result in Portugal in the 3000 hurdles, finishing ninth in Stuttgart in 1986.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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