Mekhissi-Benabbad is an idiot.

Video of finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc5r4telzW0

It was obviously stupid when he was punching mascots, but what's so bad about that kind of celebrating? I found it funny.

Xavi wrote:

Video of finale:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc5r4telzW0

Hahaha!!! That was actually better/funnier than I thought

LMAO wrote:

Let Us Be Happy wrote:

In 2010 he punched a mascot, in 2012 he knocked the mascot over. Let us be happy for the least dumb and most entertaining thing he's done at Euro Champs in the last 6 years.

"punched a mascot"? This is the funniest thing I've heard of in athletics for YEARS. What did the mascot do to deserve being punched? Must've been something.

He didn't punch a mascot in 2010, he punched Mehdi Baala.

He did push a mascot in 2012. Inside the mascot was a 14 year old girl.

Now he rips his top off with 90m to go.

Here is a highlight reel:

gatherer of quotes wrote:

He didn't punch a mascot in 2010, he punched Mehdi Baala.

He did push a mascot in 2012. Inside the mascot was a 14 year old girl.

He did punch a mascot on two occasions, I think both at Europeans, not sure which year the first one was though. The Mehdi Baala thing was 2011.

His singlet goes home DEVASTATED

I'm going to sue him for damaging our national reputation.

Le Foot wrote:

gatherer of quotes wrote:

He didn't punch a mascot in 2010, he punched Mehdi Baala.

He did push a mascot in 2012. Inside the mascot was a 14 year old girl.

He did punch a mascot on two occasions, I think both at Europeans, not sure which year the first one was though. The Mehdi Baala thing was 2011.

Does he have mental issues? Is it some type of 'roid rage? Is he juiced?

So cringe. Maybe he wanted a trademark shtick like Ezekiel Kemboi's outer lane drift? As lame as The beast or mobot.

Apparently, a protest has been filed.

Hate him. And his teammate.

mako wrote:

It was obviously stupid when he was punching mascots, but what's so bad about that kind of celebrating? I found it funny.

I look at things like a lawyer. Keeping your vest on until the race is over is a good rule that should be enforced. When he pulled the vest over his head he "went blind" for second or so. Not something that should be encouraged, even when there aren't steeples in the way.

And, again, he was issued a yellow card. That is official recognition that what he did was against the rules but it has an ambiguous result. Is the yellow card only a warning to him or to everyone? What happens the next time someone else does it?

As I'm typing this, just hearing that Spain is protesting the result.

So stay tuned.

Xavi wrote:

Video of finale:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc5r4telzW0

I think this tops Kemboi's drift-into-lane-7 finish! Well done Benabbad!

El Keniano wrote:

So cringe. Maybe he wanted a trademark shtick like Ezekiel Kemboi's outer lane drift? As lame as The beast or mobot.

I'm still no fan of celebrating before the line, but at least he had the race clearly won when he pulled off his singlet and I liked his "act" more than Kemboi's or Blake's or Mo's.

Have to say he looked very smooth getting the singlet off and going over that last barrier with it in his mouth - do we think he's been practicing?

dkny64 wrote:

[quote]El Keniano wrote:

Have to say he looked very smooth getting the singlet off and going over that last barrier with it in his mouth - do we think he's been practicing?

Wait until he takes his pants off during tomorrows 1500m prelims ;-)

This guy sounds like a psychopath. Obviously over-doped.

apres le deluge wrote:

As I'm typing this, just hearing that Spain is protesting the result.

So stay tuned.

Did his celebration hurt the Spanish guy? Did the Spaniard get offended? Even if there's a rule that you can't take off your singlet I hope the officials have some common sense and will let it pass

I don't think he was actually given a yellow card, the commentators were equating the punishment with what would happen in football.

Spain have protested and may get him disqualified as am pretty sure it is against the rules.

lets wait and see

optional extras wrote:

I don't think he was actually given a yellow card, the commentators were equating the punishment with what would happen in football.

There are literal yellow cards in athletics. The guy who flinched at the start of the 100m yesterday got one too, a ref even walked over to the lane and raised a yellow card in his hand.