French runner Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad achieved a new low for athletes this week when he slapped and then shoved a mascot costume after he won the 3,000m steeplechase in Helsinki. His attack on “Appy” and the 14-year-old girl inside has left people outraged around the world.
The 27-year-old runner had just won the 3,000-meter steeplechase race at the European Athletic Championships when he was approached by the girl in the “Appy” outfit. She attempted to give him a gift bag. He first knocked it out of her hand and then shoved her.
Now here’s the truly bizarre part. In 2010, Mekhissi-Benabbad reportedly had another incident with a mascot at the 2010 European Athletic Championships in Barcelona. He supposedly asked a mascot to kneel before him before pushing it over. He was also suspended for 10 months last year after getting into a fight with another French runner.
He obviously has a major behavioral and civility problem. What should the punishment be for such an athlete. I would not take away the victory but I would suspend him, again, for his conduct. In this case, he assaulted a child working for the event and acted in the most unsportsmanlike way. Given his history, a long suspension would appear justified. However, what do you think about negating the win since the attack occurred at the very end of the race?
Source: Sun
Just standing his ground, ya know
Len — one wouldn’t expect that kind of behavior from small children who were properly educated after their first unprovoked attack on a mascot!
idealist707-
Huh?
I guess Svoog doesn’t believe in climate change.
As for the runner, he’s a repeat offender who doesn’t really seem to care how his actions affect others. This is the kind of behaviour one would expect from small children, not an “athlete”. Fine and suspend.
Svoogle. No. Tell me, OK?