CNN —Spanish race walker Laura García-Caro cut a dismayed figure at the end of the 20-kilometer race at the European Athletics Championships as she narrowly missed out on a bronze medal having celebrated before the finish line.
García-Caro looked set to finish in third at the end of Friday’s race in Rome, and, with a Spanish flag draped around her neck and the finish line inside the Stadio Olimpico approaching, she punched the air in delight.
Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska surged past her rival two or three meters from the line, leaving a look of horror on García-Caro’s face.
The 31-year-old Olyanovska, a silver medalist at the European Championships 10 years ago, later dedicated the medal to Ukraine.
I do not know even if my five-year-old son saw me competing today because in Ukraine the infrastructure is broken.
Persons:
Laura García, Caro, Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska, “, ” García, Gregorio Borgia, Antonella Palmisano, Valentina Trapletti, Olyanovska, ”
Organizations:
CNN, European Athletics, Stadio Olimpico, Reuters
Locations:
Spanish, Rome, Ukraine