Emma Lombardi, who gained fame as the fourth place finisher at the Paris 2024 Olympics, experienced a traumatic incident at the start of the 10 km race held during the international semi-marathon in Lille on March 16, 2025. The triathlete, aiming to achieve her personal best, found herself engulfed by the chaos of the starting crowd.
Before the race even began, Lombardi described the scene on her Instagram account, noting the intense pushing and shoving behind her. "Just before the start of the race, it was really chaotic, there was so much pushing from behind," she recalled. When the race commenced, the unavoidable happened. "Everyone was jostling to get through, and I found myself on the ground within two seconds. I got trampled and crushed," she wrote.
This distressing fall led to injuries across her body, including visible bruises and wounds on her hips, back, elbow, knee, and shoulder. The aftermath was painful; Lombardi expressed fears about her ability to get back up. "Honestly, I thought I’d never get back up. I could see all these people passing over me… I’ve never felt this way before, even during triathlons where swimming can be rough," she admitted grimly.
Despite the debilitating experience, Lombardi managed to get back on her feet with the assistance of other racers. "Some people had the good sense to try and stop the runners coming through to help me and others on the ground to get back up," she noted appreciatively. She acknowledged the fact she might not have recovered without those gestures of kindness.
Lombardi finished the race with a time of 32 minutes and 30 seconds, which placed her 217th overall and 9th among the women runners—a time just two seconds shy of her personal best set the previous year at Nice. For Lombardi, whose road races are limited to one per year, the incident at Lille tarnished what was supposed to be yet another opportunity to prove her training was on the right track.
Despite her injuries and disappointment at missing out on breaking her time, Lombardi felt compelled to speak out about the necessity of respect and civility among runners. "I don’t think it’s part of the sport to trample over competitors, to step on them just because you could lose two seconds on your final time," she asserted. Her message sought to remind fellow participants of shared values, emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship over personal records.
Reflecting on the entire ordeal, she called for more consideration during events of such magnitude, stating, "Sure, everyone is there for their personal challenge, to beat their time or finish the race but we should keep some civility and respect for each other. It is supposed to be enjoyable, not like it’s the world or European championship."
Emma Lombardi's harrowing experience highlights the chaos often seen at large running events and serves as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and care for fellow competitors. What should have been another chance at personal triumph turned instead, regrettably, to one of the most painful competitions of her life.
With her physical wounds likely to heal, the emotional impact of this race may linger longer, underscoring the need for humanity amid the competitive spirit.
