Olympic athlete 'wanders off' track midway during 10,000m as BBC commentators left confused

An athlete 'wandered off' the track during the women's 10,000m final at the Olympic Games, leaving fans and commentators confused.

The final of the women's 10,000m race took place at the Stade de France on Friday, with Kenya's Beatrice Chebet winning the gold medal.

The Kenyan star won gold in the 5,000m earlier in the week, making her a double gold-medalist in her first Olympics.

However, she might not have won her second gold had a truly bizarre incident not happened early in the race.

Eritrea's Rahel Daniel looked comfortable at the front of the pack at the 2,000m mark, but she suddenly exited the race.

The 22-year-old appeared to stumble slightly before raising her hand to her face, spitting on the track and walking off.

Daniel then reportedly attempted to leave the Stade de France, only for Olympic officials to stop her and make her walk around the side of the track.

Daniel's reason for abruptly pulling out of the race is unknown, although it has been suggested that unusually humid conditions inside the stadium could have played a part.

BBC commentator and former Olympian Steve Cram was left baffled by the incident, as were thousands of fans inside the Stade de France.

Daniel finished fifth at the World Athletics Championships two years ago and had high hopes heading into the 10,000m final.

she was not the only runner to pull out mid-race; France's Alessia Zarbo fell and had to be attended by medical staff on the track as the race continued past her.

The Netherlands' Sifan Hassan and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti finished behind Chebet to take bronze and silver respectively.

After winning her second gold medal of the week, Chebet said: "This 10,000m gold medal, I can describe it as the most important medal in my life.

"I came here targeting the 10,000m gold medal, not a gold in 5,000m.

"To do the 5,000m and 10,000m is not something easy. But just focus, and know that you can achieve. Just believe in yourself. I believed that I can do it.

"My country [was] watching me, so I had to focus on the 10,000m and not think that I’ve won a gold medal [in the 5,000m]. That was my target."