PARIS — Moh Ahmed’s remaining Olympic dream died in a crumpled heap on the Stade de France track on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Canadian distance runner fell victim to the cruel realities of the 5,000 metres, a gruelling race on its own made tougher when athletes are bunched up in a pack and desperate to break free down the stretch in the final lap.

Ahmed was the first to fall, and four other athletes in the first heat did the same on the final corner. Those athletes were all reinstated by the race referee. Ahmed was not.