American 4x400-er breaks leg during race, still finishes - US qualifies for final

[Lyddea]

Manteo Mitchell goes all hero-mode, and gets the US 4x400 team through to the finals.

American runner Manteo Mitchell has revealed he ran the last 200m of the Olympic men's 4x400m relay heats with a broken left leg. Mitchell began the race for the United States, who went through to Friday's final as the second fastest team despite Mitchell's injury.

"As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark, I felt it break." Manteo told the USA Track and Field website

"I didn't want to let the three guys or the team down, so I just ran on it."

BBC Sport - Olympics relay: Broken leg for Manteo Mitchell of US

 

[big10fan]

holy cow! that dude deserves a medal!

 

[bighawkeyedaddy]

Talk about a gut check.

 

[CAARHawk]

Manteo Mitchell goes all hero-mode, and gets the US 4x400 team through to the finals.



BBC Sport - Olympics relay: Broken leg for Manteo Mitchell of US

A leg just breaking like that is a scary proposition.

 

[PCHawk]

so I assume they can get a replacement?

 

[Tmoney12]

so I assume they can get a replacement?

Leg or runner?

 

[pumpdog20]

Running 46.1, that's insane.

 

[BlckNGldHwk]

so I assume they can get a replacement?

hopefully the south African has an extra blade.

 

[HawkeyeDug]

Soo... What type of break are we talking? Are we talking a hairline break or a fibula? If so it isn't that impressive, imo. Certainly doable. I'm not commenting on the split time though as it takes me 2 min. to run 400m.

 

[IowaFan81]

Soo... What type of break are we talking? Are we talking a hairline break or a fibula? If so it isn't that impressive, imo. Certainly doable. I'm not commenting on the split time though as it takes me 2 min. to run 400m.

He was going up the stairs a few days ago and missed one, landing weird, but got treatment and was fine, until during the race. Broken fibula, doesn't say how bad though.

 

[HawkeyeDug]

He was going up the stairs a few days ago and missed one, landing weird, but got treatment and was fine, until during the race. Broken fibula, doesn't say how bad though.

Yeah, broken fibula is certainly doable. I'm sure it hurt but it is mostly non-weight bearing.

 

[Lyddea]

Yeah, broken fibula is certainly doable. I'm sure it hurt but it is mostly non-weight bearing.

 

[ThunderHawk]

This is the most impressive story of the Olympics. That is just stone cold.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Leg or runner?

Talk to the kid from South Africa, he knows where to procure replacement legs.

 

[wartknight]

Said it should heal on its own in 4-6 weeks.
One of those things where the adrenaline is probably pumping like crazy, but when he got done it was probably pretty uncomfortable.

 

[imported_ankle23]

Yeah, broken fibula is certainly doable. I'm sure it hurt but it is mostly non-weight bearing.

agreed. that doesn't 'minimize' the story, but this is a fibula fracture. fibula is non-weight bearing.