The two runners embraced at the finish line. Less than 20 minutes later, they found themselves eternally linked – by circumstance, by action, by benevolence.
Advertisement
The Olympic spirit was on full display during the second heat in the women’s 5,000 meter run Tuesday morning.
They may not have achieved what they came for, but middle-distance runners Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino are assured of their places in Olympic Games folklore.
Speaking to Radio Sport’s Brenton Vannisselroy, Hamblin said she wasn’t sure how the fall occurred and who was at fault.
The Kiwi athlete shares what happened on the track in one of the great moments of Rio. The pair tangled and both ended up on the track during the second heat. That’s when the long-distance races can be the most unsafe.
Hamblin said the moment showed exactly what the Olympics were about. She helped me first. “Why am I on the ground?”
“Then suddenly this hand on my shoulder, like, “Get up, get up, we have to finish this”, and I was like, “Yup, yup, you’re right”. After appealing, the judges advanced D’Agostino and Hamblin.
“I was like, “Yup, yup, you’re right”.
It is one of the most inspiring stories of this or any Olympic Games. “We have to finish this, ‘” Hamblin said.
It was American Abbey D’Agostino, offering to help. With seven NCAA titles, she’s the most decorated long distance and cross-country runner the Ivy League has ever seen.
She wasn’t about to leave Rio de Janeiro wearing a frown and a bronze medal.
“She was like, ‘go on, go on, I don’t know if I can run, keep going, keep going!’ “She was saying, ‘I can’t put weight on my knee.’ It was buckling”.
Hamblin, D’Agostino and Austria’s Jennifer Werth, who was also caught up in the collision, were granted permission to run in the 5000m final on Friday.
Both continued the race, despite having no chance to advance. She didn’t make it far before collapsing again. This time Hamblin played the role of motivator. When D’Agostino finished the race, she was greeted by Hamblin, and the two hugged.
China’s Bin Dong won the bronze medal in the event.
“I am so grateful to Abbey for helping me, ” Hamblin told ESPN.
D’Agostino had an injured knee.
Advertisement
Hamblin fell heavily on her right shoulder.
