Few would have forecast the men’s heats to be the most chaotic event of Paris 2024 so far – but it is a strong contender after Wednesday’s drama.

As the runners in heat one battled for a top-eight qualifying spot, European silver medallist Mills attempted to force his way through the field from near the back on the final straight.

In doing so he bumped shoulders with French runner Hugo Hay, then collided with Eritrea’s Aron Kifle, causing both to fall into Mohammed Ahmed of Canada while also collecting Dutch runner Mike Foppen.

Mills then angrily confronted Hay after crossing the finish line, before asserting to the BBC that he had been stepped on.

He finished 18th, but tournament organisers ruled that Mills had been impeded and sent him through along with Hay and the other fallers – meaning 20 men will compete in the 5,000m final on Saturday.

There was also drama in the second heat, which featured Jakob Ingebrigtsen the day after losing his 1500m Olympic title.

The runners had to skirt around a camera operator, who was covering a field event and wandered onto the inside lanes of the track just as the athletes rounded the bend.

All the runners avoided a collision, and Norway’s two-time world champion Ingebrigtsen made the final.