Distance runners Abbey D’Agostino of the U.S. and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand are being praised for a touching moment that completely embodies the spirit of the Olympics.
Neither were favourites to win medals in yesterday’s 5,000-meter event and when the collided on the track it seemed all hope was lost. D’Agostino collided with Hamblin at the 3,200 mark when Hamblin slowed for a moment to give space to another runner.
D’Agostino got up but saw Hamblin was in distress and injured from the fall.
Por su gran gesto olímpico, Nikki Hamblin y Abbey D’Agostino fueron recalificadas por los jueces y avanzaron pic.twitter.com/nTk0yHTPpP
— Sebastián Amaya (@sebaamaya) August 16, 2016
“She could hardly stand,” Hamblin said.
Hamblin helped her fellow runner but as D’Agostino couldn’t finish, she told Hamblin to go on without her.
Hamblin finished 16th in 16:43.10, and D’Agostino limped to the line in 17:10.02
Hamblin spoke to reporters after the race.
“I went down, and I was like, ‘What’s happening? Why am I on the ground?’” Hamblin said.
“Then suddenly, there’s this hand on my shoulder saying ‘Get up, get up, we have to finish this.’ And I’m like, ‘Yup, yup, you’re right. This is the Olympic Games. We have to finish this.’”
“I’m so grateful for Abbey for doing that for me. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I’ve never met her before. I’ve never met this girl before, and isn’t that just so amazing? Regardless of the race and the result on the board, that’s a moment that you’re never, ever going to forget for the rest of your life, that girl shaking my shoulder like, ‘Come on, get up.’”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dBDvxBYNrQ
The two girls are being praised for their spirit and after protest from fans, the two were advanced to Friday’s final.
Sometimes crossing the line is more powerful than the win.
