Without her random act of kindness, he might not have made it to the race in time
Hansle Parchment, the Jamaican gold medallist who won this year’s 110m hurdles at Tokyo 2020, has tracked down the volunteer who gave him the taxi money to make it to the Olympic Stadium in time for his race.
Parchment got lost en route to the venue after taking the wrong bus, ending up at the Sea Forest Waterway aquatics centre instead; were it not for Games volunteer Tijana Stojkovic, he may very well have not made it to the track in time and his first-ever gold medal may never have been.
The 31-year-old, who won bronze at London 2012, posted a heartwarming video to his Instagram where explains how he had music in and got on a bus going in the wrong direction (we’ve all been there, mate) and how Ms Stojkovic came to his rescue in the eleventh hour.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSRl4aqhYXP/?utm_source=ig_embed
As you can see in the video, not only does Parchment surprise the good Samaritan with the money she lent him for the taxi but he also hands an official Jamaica shirt as well as the gold medal itself. Imagine actually holding one of those things in your hands.
The young woman is obviously made up just to see him again, let alone be repaid and gifted in such a way; the first thing she asks when he appears is for a simple selfie but the Olympian does her one better.
The video ends by simply saying, “Thank you” and just a few days later, the volunteer of Serbian-Japanese descent shared her own thank you post in response, donning her lovely Jamaica shirt.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSZIUejpeW2/
Not only did she help a bloke go and win a gold medal but she showed an example of just how easier it is to lead with kindness. Well in, Tijana!
Related links
- Tokyo 2020 – the best viral moments from the Olympics
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