2016 Rio Olympics: Abbey D'Agostino & Nikki Hamblin Wins Hearts After Showing Amazing Sportsmanship [VIDEO]
The 2016 Rio Olympics has been a pretty wild ride so far, with its own fair share of rather unsavory moments. Just recently, social media went up in flames when an Egyptian Judoka refused to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent. On Tuesday's woman's 5,000-meter run, however, the athletes in the Olympics showed a side that the event needed very much -- sportsmanship.
Abbey D'Agnostino of the United States and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand were both competing for the event's prize. However, the pair got tangled when the New Zealander was tripped in front of the American. The two athletes hit the ground hard.
With about 2,000 meters left in the race, Hamblin thought that her goal of finishing the race and qualifying for the next event had been dashed. Suddenly, however, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was D'Agnostino.
"Get up. We have to finish this," the American athlete said.
With that, Hamblin decided to get up and finish the race anyway. "I was like, "Yup, yup, you're right. This is the Olympics Games. We have to finish this,'" Hamblin later said.
As the pair started to run again, it became evident that the American was the more damaged of the two. D'Agnostino had hurt her ankle during the fall. It was then that Hamblin decided to return the favor.
Hamblin slowed down and kept pace with her American competitor, until both of them eventually crossed the finish line. Both were the last placers in the race, but their actions ultimately won the hearts of the crowd, and the world watching the event.
"That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I've never met her before. Like I never met this girl before. And isn't that just so amazing. Such an amazing woman," Hamblin said in a later interview.
As the pair finished the race, they hugged. Hamblin and D'Agnostino might not have known each other before the event, but they finished the run as friends.
As D'Agnostino was led away on a wheelchair, the athlete reached out her right hand towards Hamblin. The two runners gripped each other's forearms for a few moments, before officials wheeled the American away.
Olympic officials have decided to take exception to the two runners, stating that both Hamblin and D'Agnostino would return in Friday's upcoming race.
