HARD LESSON: Clueless Fan Learns What Happens When You Celebrate Too Soon

Never, ever celebrate until you’ve crossed the finish line.

An Atlanta Braves fan learned that lesson the hard way on Friday when he believed he was about to beat “The Freeze.” That’s a masked sprinter who races fans between innings at SunTrust Park, giving them a huge head start only to put their dreams on ice by beating them anyway.

In this case, the fan raised his arms in celebration just steps before the finish line:

But when he looked over his shoulder, he discovered that The Freeze was about to pass him. The shock of the moment led to the face plant to end all face plants:

The viral moment also turned The Freeze into an overnight sensation:

According to The Washington Post, The Freeze is actually 26-year-old Nigel Talton of Fort Valley, Georgia. Talton, who works on the Braves grounds crew, is also a track athlete hoping to make Team USA.

“I never know what’ll happen out of this ‘Beat The Freeze’ contest,” Talton told the newspaper. “I’m just blessed and waiting, waiting for whatever opportunity comes across my way.”