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This Olympic Runner Helping Her Rival After She Fell Is The True Meaning Of Sportsman Spirit

byParth Shahanand
17th August 2016
2 minute read

There will always be endless stories to tell after every Olympic event ends. Stories of victory, failure, resilience, and rewards. But the stories of friendship and true sportsman spirit will be what will shine through them.

One such story was made in the 5000 mt. women’s heats yesterday.

New Zealand distance runner Nikki Hamblin fell during the competition, also taking down American Abbey D’Agostino with her. But instead of running to win, Abbey helped Nikki get back on her feet as well.

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Around the 3,200 mt. mark, Hamblin slowed down because another runner was overtaking her, to avoid colliding with her, but she tripped and fell. D’Agostino, coming from behind, hit Hamblin and fell as well.

 

When Hamblin got up, she saw that D’Agostino was struggling, so she helped her up and egged her on to run further.

“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 [and D’Agostino 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.’”

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But D’Agostino was in severe pain, and it looked like she had taken an injury, and couldn’t run. Hamblin wanted her to run, but D’Agostino asked her to continue. Hamblin finished 16th and D’Agostino managed to limp to the finish line.

 

When the race was over, D’Agostino was taken away in a wheelchair, but not before both women hugged each other and celebrated together.

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Both Hamblin and D’Agostino will be allowed to enter the final race because they were affected by a trip. Speaking of her experience and making a new friend, Hamblin was quoted as saying,

“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.’”

 

Here is what happened at the race.

This is an inspirational story among the tough competition which is the usual order of the day in the Olympics.

Kudos to them, and hope they’ll recover in time for the final!

News sources: Los Angeles Times, New Zealand Herald
Cover images source

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