Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500-meters, already lost one race this year by celebrating too early. That didn't stop him for going for the repeat in the final Diamond League 1500m of the year in Brussels on Friday, giving away his advantage in the final straight after losing his goddam mind
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In this first photo, Makhloufi, believing he has broken the field around the final curve, turns to wave at the camera. Unbeknownst to him, however, is Silas Kiplagat, closing hard because this is a race and seldom do athletes roll over in the last 100 meters.
And so Kiplagat comes abreast and even moves slightly ahead of Makhloufi. The race is over, and Makhloufi is so stupid, ha ha ha! But in a display of almost mind-boggling judgment, Kiplagat raises his arms in victory before crossing the line. Makhloufi leans; Makhloufi wins by two one-hundredths of a second.
While Kiplagat did lose the $10,000 prize for winning, with his runner-up finish he locked up the Diamond League title, which is accompanied by a $40,000 bonus. That must soften the blow. But when future generations of runners are watching tape of race tactics, they'll look at this as an example of how even the best runners are not immune to stupid decisions.
[Screengrabs via Universal Sports]