Meet flamboyant Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, a man who lost out on a gold medal for showboating. Here’s what happened. Mekhissi-Benabbad was leading the 3000m Steeplechase at the European Championship in Zurich. When Mekhissi-Benabbad came to the last straightaway, he took off his shirt in celebration, a no-no in the world of track and field. Spain issued a protest and the IAAF immediately disqualified him.
JURY OF APPEAL DECISION: Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad is disqualified from 1st place in the men's 3000m steeplechase after Spain protest.
— Zurich 2014 (@Euro_Champs) August 14, 2014
Here’s the last few moments of the race.
So apparently this guy is like the Metta World Peace of track and field. He’s always causing a problem, always getting into it with competitors. In 2012, he fought and pushed down a mascot. We later learned the mascot was a 14-year-old girl. He’s kind of a douchebag.
