Distance runners Abbey D’Agostino (USA) and Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) are now well-known for their display of Olympic spirit during the heats of the 5000m.
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After colliding during a race last week and helping each other cross the finish line, American Abbey D’Agostino and Nikki Hamblin, of New Zealand, received a prize for their sportsmanship.
While D’Agostino faces a long recovery process, Hamblin is sure the future holds many rewards for the American, saying in the Telegraph: “I’ve never met this girl before, and isn’t that just so awesome, such an wonderful woman”. Together, they managed to encourage each other to finish the race.
Said Hamblin at the award ceremony: “I think it’s very special for both Abbey and myself”.
D’Agostino and New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin went to the ground after a collision in their qualifier, setting up D’Agostino’s heroics.
“I finished and I had a lonely last four laps but she ran four and a half laps barely being able to run”.
Race officials allowed both runners into Friday’s final, but D’Agostino won’t be there.
The International Fair Play Committee of the Olympics agreed and awarded both competitors a Fair Play Olympic trophy.
“Since the night of the opening ceremonies, I have been so touched by this-people from all corners of the globe, embracing their unique cultures, yet all uniting under one celebration of the human body, mind, and spirit”, she added.
The International Olympic Committee awarded two runners a rare medal for embodying the Olympic spirit during the 5,000 meter race. Chusovitina competed in her first Olympics in 1992 – five years before Simone Biles was born in 1997. After all, they were just one step away from an Olympic medal.
But it would be fitting if Hamblin and d’Agostino did receive the Pierre de Courbetin medal.
D’Agostino and Hamblin made the headlines after being involved in a nasty spill just over halfway into their semifinal race. When D’Agostino tried to put weight on her knee, she fell again, at which point Hamblin helped her up.
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“Winning this award is overwhelming”, Hamblin was quoted by the Telegraph. D’Agostino also spoke of her fears about speaking about her faith in a public way. “I’m never going to forget that arm on my shoulder”.
