PARIS — Hands on his head, tears in his eyes, Mozambique sprinter Steven Sabino walked off Stade de France’s distinctive purple track and disappeared down a tunnel.
The 18-year-old could scarcely believe that he would fly back from the Olympics without even getting to compete.
Only moments earlier, Sabino was at the start line for the second heat of the men’s 100 meters prelims, but he sprang out of the blocks before the starting gun sounded. Track officials ruled that he false started and showed him a red card indicating that he had been disqualified.