Rio Olympics: Yohann Diniz passed out during 50km walk final

RIO DE JANEIRO: Having maintained a healthy lead in the men's

50km walk final

at the Rio Olympics on Friday, world record holder

Yohann Diniz

of France had run into trouble, suffering intestinal problems which forced him to stop quite a few times and also make him passed out once, but courageous Diniz somehow found the strength to keep going and finish the race at creditable eighth place.

Things got worsened, once he crossed 30km mark, after a dark liquid - appeared to be blood - started coming down the back of Diniz's legs. He collapsed on the floor afterwards, lying there motionless and later being helped by the officials, but it didn't stop the Frenchman to finish off the race.

With 20km to go, the high-school sports coach from France had been 1 minute, 28 seconds ahead of a slimmed-down chasing group of seven men, including the reigning Olympic champion,

Jared Tallent

of Australia, and world champion

Matej Toth

from Slovakia.

But he then pulled up complaining of stomach pain, just as the chasing group was picking up the pace to try to reel in the 38-year-old hunting an elusive Olympic medal in the longest athletics event of the games. Diniz rejoined the race after a brief pause.

Burning sun and high temperatures took a toll on the athletes on the 2-kilometer course looping back and forth along the Atlantic seafront west of Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach.

Slovakia's Matej Toth won the gold ahead of Australian Jared Tallent in the longest athletics event at the Rio Games, the men's 50km race walk.

Hirooki Arai

of Japan crossed the line in third place ahead of Canada's

Evan Dunfee

. But Dunfee was bumped to bronze after Arai was disqualified. He elbowed Dunfee when overtaking him.

(With inputs from AP)