But on Saturday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the exemplary sportsmanship both women had displayed would not go unrecognized: D’Agostino and Hamblin became the 18th and 19th recipients of the Pierre de Coubertin medal.
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Shortly after the race started, Nikki Hamblin from New Zealand tripped on the ground, causing United States athlete Abbey D’Agostino to collide with her, who also fell.
Both Hamblin, who now represents New Zealand, and American Abbey D’Agostino were given the accolade after the touching moment during their women’s 5,000m heat in Brazil.
Described as one of the most decorated Ivy League athletes, D’Agostino, 24, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, was all eyes on the finish line as she ran by the 2000-meter mark. D’Agostino told the New Zealand runner, according to ESPN.
It was immediately obvious that D’Agostino, who had twisted her knee awkwardly while falling, was in enormous pain. Hamblin was waiting for her at the finish line to greet her with a hug before D’Agostino was wheeled out of the Rio stadium.
Abbey D’Agostino, who was raised in a Catholic family, spoke to Julia Hanlon’s “Running On Om” podcast, published November 18, 2015. “So you have to take the other moments, the moments of joy you get from experiences like that as well”.
Flag-bearers are chosen by their peers, so the other U.S. Olympians would need to select D’Agostino for the honor. “The Olympic Games are about more than the win, the medals or the record-setting performances”, read the statement released by the IOC. “Both of us are strong competitors and we wanted to go out there and do our best on the track”. Together, they managed to encourage each other to finish the race.
The Norwegian men’s handball team were also honoured on the day for their gracious attitudes, despite just missing out of the 2016 Games. I am so grateful to Abbey for picking me up, and I think many people would have returned the favour …
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It is a decoration that can be awarded to an athlete, sports promoter and sporting officials that have displayed epic sportsmanship, or sportswomanship as the case may be. As I finished the race – luckily qualifying for the finals – I realized I had about three holes in my knee where someone’s spikes had hit. The International Olympic Committee agreed, and the duo have now been rewarded for their showing of b-e-a-utiful camaraderie.
