Team GB star in furious altercation with French athlete after chaotic Olympic race ends in disaster

Team GB athlete George Mills was involved in a furious altercation with France's Hugo Hay after the first 5000m heat on Wednesday.

Mills, son of former England footballer Danny Mills, was placed 18th in the race after suffering a number of falls at the Stade de France.

But the 25-year-old was utterly furious afterwards, accusing Hay of causing a fall right on the final straight.

Mills was one of multiple runners to trip and fall on the track in the incident, which he blamed Hay for.

The two had been side by side as they approached the finish line before Mills was knocked off balance and into other opponents in a domino-like collision.

The exchange was captured by cameras and shown on the BBC feed.

🇬🇧 George Mills was NOT happy with one of his fellow 5000m competitors 😡#Olympics #Paris2024 #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/OQ7tODFkpK

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024

Immediately after the race, a livid Mills was seen angrily marching over and getting in the face of Hay - who looked like he was trying to explain and apologise.

Mills was not having any of it though, animatedly pointing his finger at Hay.

The Frenchman put his hand on his shoulder and reason with Mills but he was not having any of it, storming off and removing it.

Mills did not qualify for Saturday's 5000m final but Hay did and the Harrogate native was then whisked in for an interview with the BBC, where he revealed he was hopeful of lodging an appeal after being "taken out".

"Coming into the home straight I was tucked into the inside on the last lap, where I wanted to be because I knew some sort of gap would open up... It was clear," he said.

"I don't know if you guys could see it on the TV. Look, I wouldn't go for a gap if it wasn't there. That would be a pretty dumb strategy...I pulled onto the outside and there was space.

"I got stepped out on...then boom, the French lad took me down!".

The Brighton Phoenix runner was asked what exactly he said to Hay but emphasised, "I'm probably not allowed to say!".

However, just as it looked like he had raced his final race in Paris - reports circulated claiming Mills had secured a place in the final.

In his other event, the 1500m heat, he finished tenth and unable to emerge from the repechage.

Mills came into the competition with high hopes after bagging a silver medal in the 5000 metres in Rome in June.