Northern Ireland Commonwealth team announced

robinph

Shocked that none of the supporters even had a spare bottle of water to tip over him.

skyblue46

That was horrific! The organisation was absolutely deplorable. How could somebody be left like that for so long? People just standing and watching, taking photographs! Disgusting.

robinph

I can understand that you don't have medics every 20 meters of a marathon course, but the official on the timing mat should have been on the radio shouting man down, the 50 guys on mopeds should have had stocks of water bottles in their panniers to hand to anyone stopping at random points on the course and radioing for the broom wagon for the likes of the Lesotho guy who stopped a few minutes before etc rather than just weaving between the cones.

Even the medic when she eventually turned up seemed scared to do anything presumably as they had all been briefed not to touch anyone before the line incase they get DQed. Maybe it's something that it wouldn't be fair on the medical volunteers to have to make a call on, but any official watching the TV coverage at the finish could have quickly radioed that person X is clearly not in a fit state, they are no longer racing, help them, now!

Kristopherus

In all my years watching athletics, that Hawkins incident knocked the stuffing out of me. Just couldn't believe what I was watching. And that ridiculous rule of "do not touch" should be rescinded in the case of the marathon. That race can throw up so many imponderables, allowances must be made.

I really hope Hawkins maes a full recovery. Physical recovery may be quick enough, but the mental one may be somewhat longer.

wgtomblin

Hope Hawkins recovers quickly. Totally blew up. What seemed to get lost in the aftermath was what a fine race by Shelley, the defending champion to take gold. His experience told in the end. Also good run by Seaward in 4th... just a few seconds from a medal.