This is what the Olympics is supposed to be all about.
Amid all the talk of doping, dodgy judges, snubbed handshakes and ticket touting, it is fantastic to report on a true act of sportsmanship.
During the second heat for the Women’s 5,000 metres in Rio, Abbey D’Agostino (USA) and Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) were in good shape when an opponent’s trip sent them stumbling to the ground.
The Kiwi looked in a bad, bad way. D’Agostino’s hopes of reaching the final were slipping away with every passing second but she decided to go back to help an opponent she had never previously met or competed against. Bending to help Hamblin, the American said:
“Get up, get up, we have to finish this.”
Hamblin stood up and the two runners – dreams of Olympic medals a long way away – set off. D’Agostino had not gone far before she began to falter – she had torn her cruciate in the fall and was in agony.
This time, she repeated those same words to herself – We have to finish this.
Hamblin finished. Second last over the line and over 90 seconds off the heat winner.
D’Agostino finished a further 30 seconds back. It turns out, her knee was in awful shape.
USATF announces Abbey D’Agostino's MRI revealed a complete tear of her right ACL, a meniscus tear, and a strained MCL. #Rio2016
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) August 17, 2016
The pair embraced after the race.
Both were advanced to the 5,000m final as they had both been victims of a collision that was in no way their fault. Hamblin will compete in Saturday’s final but D’Agostino is off to hospital. The New Zealander told Radio NZ:
“When I look back on Rio 2016, I’m not going to remember where I finished, I’m not going to remember my time… but I’ll always remember that moment.”
Some bright, uplifting news during a games shrouded in controversy and shame.
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes
