D’Agostino suffered an injury during the fall, later revealed to be her ankle.
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“There was about 2k to go, I was still feeling controlled, and was mentally preparing to focus and maintain contact with the lead group for the final grind”, D’Agostino said in a USATF statement Wednesday, her first public comments since she and Hamblin’s moments together went viral.
Nikki Hamblin (right) helped Abbey D’Agostino later in the race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
“I’ve never met this girl before, and isn’t that just so unbelievable, such an incredible woman”.
The two finished the race, but D’Agostino was visibly limping for the last five laps.
“I’m never going to forget that moment”, Hamblin said. We didn’t get D’Agostino’s side of the story, however, as she was whisked away for medical attention. She has embodied all that fans, athletes and analysts want sports to be, which is a victory in itself.
After the race, Hamblin told reporters that she’s never met D’Agostino before, but she’ll forever be touched by her kindness on the track.
“I didn’t even realize she was still running”.
D’Agostino released a statement Wednesday, detailing the incident that caused the injury, and saying what a positive experience the ordeal was despite the outcome. “I’ve never met her before”.
She then turned to her and helped her up, sacrificing her own race. I’m so impressed and inspired that she did that.
D’Agostino hobbled over the finish line, with the two embracing before both runners were put through to the final by the track officials.
Olympic officials have chose to take exception to the two runners, stating that both Hamblin and D’Agnostino would return in Friday’s upcoming race.
Though both runners initially failed to qualify for the final, along with Jennifer Wenth of Austria, who was also caught up in the collision, it was later announced that all three had been awarded places in the race, to be held on 19 August. Suddenly, however, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“She’s always been someone who cared very deeply about other people – her friends, her teammates, her family”, Harwick said. “Such an unbelievable woman”, Hamblin said in a later interview.
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“In high school, she was always the one boosting her teammates” spirits, telling them, “You can do it!'”
