American athlete Abbey D’Agnostino and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand took an unfortunate tumble during the 5,000-meter qualifying race – something which would ruin the race for both of them.
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The runners had reached the 3,000 meter mark of the race when D’Agnostino accidentally clipped Hambliln’s heel.
Nikki Hamblin (right) helped Abbey D’Agostino later in the race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Both women were on the track with 4 1/2 of the 12 1/2 laps left Tuesday morning.
But there was an insistent voice, too, and a hand on her shoulder. “We have to finish this'”.
“She helped me first”. I mean, how selfless can you get?
“Yup, yup, this is the Olympic Games. We have to finish!” Hamblin and D’Agostino set aside their own hopes of making the final to look out for a fellow competitor. What followed was a display of two ideal strangers turning personal disaster into a triumph of Olympic goodwill.
Hamblin fell heavily on her right shoulder. D’Agostino, who has previously run 15:03 in the event, finished last in 17:10.02.
However, since the collision that caused the American’s injury was an accident, she will still be able to compete in the finals on Friday.
Hamblin said the moment showed exactly what the Olympics were about. “Then in a split second, there was a woman on the ground in front of me, I tripped on her, someone behind me tripped on me, and I was on the ground”. Like, I’ve never met this girl before. “And isn’t that just so unbelievable?” Such an incredible woman.
Grimacing, she refused to give up, though, running almost half the race with the injury.
D’Agostino and Hamblin began running again together, committed to finishing the race together. Why am I on the ground?’ ” Hamblin said, via the Los Angeles Times. She eventually had to leave D’Agostino behind and thought the American would have to give up.
She previously told podcast Running On Om that as a young runner she’d felt “burdened” by the expectations placed upon her as a successful athlete.
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In a classic act of sportsmanship, the US’ female representative in the 5,000-meter run made a decision to forego the race to help out her fallen opponent at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday.
