The “Punching Competition” at the 1992 Junior World Championships

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At the 1992 Junior World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, Kenyan runner Josephat Machuka was disqualified from the 10,000m race after punching the Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebrselassie just before the finish line as Gebrselassie sprinted to victory. The unsportsmanlike act, which occurred in the final meters of the race in Seoul, was captured on video and remains a memorable moment in athletics history.

Though Machuka and Gebrselassie later resolved their conflict, with Gebrselassie going on to a legendary career and Machuka also having a successful, albeit overshadowed, career in distance running.

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