Golden revenge for steeplechase stripper

ByEurosport

Updated 17/08/2014 at 13:53 GMT

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, the man who lost his gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase for pulling his shirt off before the line, made up for his loss with 1500m gold at the European Championships in Zurich.

Mahideine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France (C) celebrates winning the men's 1500 metres final during the European Athletics Championships at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich August 17, 2014

Image credit: Reuters

The Frenchman clocked a time of three minutes 45.60 in the final, half a second better than Norway's Henrik Ingebritsen, who claimed silver in a photo finish with Britain's Chris O'Hare.

Mekhissi-Benabbad became the most talked-about athlete of the championships for his celebration during the final stretch of the 3000m steeplechase, in which he pulled off his shirt before the final hurdle and stormed over the line with arms aloft.

Despite his huge margin of victory he was thrown out of the event and stripped of gold for not having crossed the line while wearing his number - a decision which split fans, with many praising him for his moment of entertaining chutzpah and others horrified at what they saw as a cheap stunt which devalued the event.

Athletics