Premature Celebration To Blame For Runner’s Last Second Loss

Have you ever been playing a game?and knowing you were about to win got way too happy, way too smug, and inevitably?lost? It sucks (for lack of better verbiage). It sucks even more when it’s caught on video (as you will see soon enough). Tanguy Pepiot would know.

celebration
Screengrab from Youtube.

Pepiot was?in the lead running the steeplechase at the Pepsi Invitational in?Eugene, Oregon. With only 10 meters to go and a surge of adrenaline-saturated confidence,?he slowed and began gesturing to a cheering crowd of 3,400 spectators thinking they were all celebrating.?And then Washington’s Meron Simon closed in, and with 5 meters to go, won the race by a tenth of a second.?Oops.

Simon told The Register-Guard he thought Pepiot had won when he noticed he was slowing down and gesturing to the crowd. With that in mind, he said he, “…just went to the line and just raced.”

When asked about the major?gut-wrenching loss (which is up there with the Seattle Seahawks Superbowl loss), Pepiot told The Register-Guard: “I think it was the first time it happened to me… I’ll make sure it’s the last time.”
I would hope so.

The look on Pepiot’s face as the realization hits him that he’s lost the race reminds me of the look on EVERYONE’S face rooting for the Seattle Seahawks this past Superbowl. It’s the look of disbelief, despair, and embarrassment as you realize you just prematurely celebrated, which is pretty embarrassing.

I also find it kind of funny too. I do NOT find the Seahawks loss funny, however.

 

Check out the video below!