An American Runner Displays Incredible Sportsmanship By Helping A Fallen Competitor

For most sports, when athletes compete at the Olympics, the stakes are as high as it gets. When you only get one shot every four years to reach the pinnacle of your sport, the difference between winning and losing becomes even more stark. That’s why moments of sportsmanship, when being a good competitor and a good person wins out over where you finish, stand out so much in the Olympics — like the moment above, between New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and American Abbey D’Agostino during the preliminary running of the 5000M race.

The distance races can get quite bunched and crowded, and this was no different. Hamblin tripped, likely on another racer’s legs, and caught D’Agostino, who was running right behind. Hamblin looked, if not injured, then seriously dazed, but D’Agostino was there for her, helping her competitor up and encouraging her to finish the race. They weren’t teammates, but by the end of the race (which they both finished, a mile later), they embraced each other as friends.

And to add an even better cap on that story, both Hamblin and D’Agostino advanced to the next round of the 5000M event based on their times, which means Hamblin has D’Agostino to thank for getting her back up on her feet. It may seem cliche, but that’s really what the Olympics are supposed to be about.