PARIS -- Team GB's George Mills has been advanced to the men's 5,000-metre final after almost seeing his Olympic campaign ended as he was tripped in the heats on the home straight.
Mills was one of four athletes who took a tumble at the final stretch. At the finish line, he confronted French runner Hugo Hay, who he claimed had caused the incident.
"This guy came and took me out," a furious Mills told Eurosport. "He took me out! I hope [there is an appeal], but it's out of my control.
"Being in France and with it being a French guy taking me out, I can't see anything happening.
"It turned into a sprint finish, me stepping up to the five, it suits me a lot. I dodged one fall at the bell."
Mills went down, as did Spain's Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Team Refugee's Dominic Lobalu and the Netherlands' Mike Foppen. However, all four were given a place in Saturday's final, which will now swell to 20 runners.
Mills is the son of former Premier League footballer Danny Mills. He won a silver medal in the men's 5,000 metres at the European Championships in Rome in June.