EXCLUSIVE
‘Carnage’ – Danny Mills ’emotionally drained’ by son George’s Olympic 5000m controversy at Paris 2024
talkSPORT's Danny Mills has described the Paris Olympics as an 'emotional rollercoaster' after his son's dramatic 5000m heat.
George Mills was running on the final straight, but was involved in a shoving match with Frenchman Hugo Hay and fell to the track.
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Three other racers also hit the deck, with Team GB star Mills seen swearing at Hay after finishing 18th as a result of the chaos.
However the 25-year-old, along with Dominic Lobalu of the Refugee Olympic team, the Netherlands' Mike Foppen and Spain's Thierry Ndikumwenayo, have all been reinstated for the final.
The news come as a huge relief to all and their families, especially George's father and former Premier League footballer Danny, who spoke to talkSPORT about the emotional toll of watching his son compete at on the biggest sporting stage.
"It's been an emotional rollercoaster these Olympics," the ex-England defender told Hawksbee and Jacobs. "It's not been easy by any means, especially as a parent watching.
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"I think George maybe slightly regrets his reaction immediately afterwards [his clash with Hay], that's not athletics, but I think people have to realise that this is four, five years of real hard work.
"You put yourself in the right position and then when you get taken out through no fault of your own and a potential Olympic final taken away from you, I think obviously emotions run high at that stage.
"But I thought he handled himself well afterwards in the interviews and I think when you look back at it, Hugo Hay, the French guy, steps across him and that causes absolute carnage."
Speaking more on the collision, Mills said: "I think sometimes when you see these slower races at championship level, people get blocked in and then they start to panic.
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"A bit of bumping and barging is fine, a bit of shoulder to shoulder, sometimes people touch the back of each other, it's not a problem.
"But if you're at full stride in the last sort of 100m or so and you give someone a good shove and of course you get clipped because of that.
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"I think obviously the officials have looked at it and thankfully put everybody through and give themselves a rightful chance.
"His sort of teammate Dominic Lobalu, who runs for the Refugee team, went down as well. Thierry [Ndikumwenayo] the Spanish guy, which is a first ever in athletics, he didn't finish the race and he was put through as well.
"It just goes to show what sort of carnage was involved but let's just say, I feel about as old as Andy Jacobs right now!"
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Mills added: "I've said many, many times, it's like watching a penalty shootout sudden death, that's what it is every single time because you know, things do happen.
"People do get tripped, people do get bumped, tactics do go wrong but I think rightfully on this occasion the officials looked at it, the runners that were coming through, they were going to qualify.
"They're 1500m metre guys, they've got speed in the final sections of the race, the slow race. So thankfully they've all been put through, I think the right decision was made and it gives them another opportunity in the final now."
George, who won silver at the European championships earlier this year, will now take to the track for the 5,000m final at 18:50 UK time on Saturday night.
"This is the highest of the highest levels, so it's been emotionally draining, especially as parents, friends, supporters the last few days," added Danny.
"A couple of days back home now and then back out for the final on Saturday night, and hopefully he'll just want to do himself and his friends, his team and everybody proud."
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