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Scary mascot terrifies Bahamian sprinter Strachan at world championships

The strange-looking creature pops out from behind a sofa while she waited her semifinals result for the 200m final

Published: Fri 25 Aug 2023, 2:05 PM

  • By
  • Reuters

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Youhuu, a native Hungarian racka sheep, is the World Athletics Championships mascot. - Reuters

Youhuu, a native Hungarian racka sheep, is the World Athletics Championships mascot. - Reuters

Bahamian sprinter Anthonique Strachan was good-natured after getting quite a scare from the event's mascot, Youhuu, moments after her 200-metres semi-final at the World Athletics Championships.

Strachan had just sat down on a couch in the "q room" - where non-automatic qualifiers can wait to see if they have advanced - on Thursday when Youhuu, a native Hungarian racka sheep known for its huge, spiral horns, poked its head out from behind the sofa.


The 30-year-old leapt from her seat in fright in a humorous moment captured on the live broadcast.

Strachan and the mascot shared a hug after the prank. And she did clinch a spot in Friday night's final.

Bahamas' Anthonique Strachan crosses the finish line in the women's 200m semi-final during the World Athletics Championships. - AFP

Bahamas' Anthonique Strachan crosses the finish line in the women's 200m semi-final during the World Athletics Championships. - AFP

It was not the only odd event during Thursday night's competition in Budapest. A golf cart carrying athletes to the 200-metres semi-final collided with another, postponing the start of the race by 30 minutes.

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Jamaican Andrew Hudson, who had to have glass removed from his eye after the crash, initially did not advance to Friday's final, but World Athletics officials decided to go with a nine-runner final Friday to allow him to compete.



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