French athlete shoves mascot after winning race

A French runner is facing criticism after shoving a 14-year-old girl who was wearing a mascot costume at sporting event in Finland on Friday.

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad had just won the 3,000-metre steeplechase and the girl approached the athlete with a gift bag. However, Mekhissi-Benabbad slapped it out of her hand before shoving the teenager.

The girl reportedly had the wind knocked out of her but was otherwise unharmed.