These Olympians Were Not Awarded Medals For Winning But Because Of Heartwarming Display Of Compassion

For a moment, the Rio Olympics ceased to be only about medal tallies, championship, world records and heart breaks. It witnessed the attributes of compassion and companionship.

While the likes of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps were proving their mettle and increasing their number of golds, Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino — two middle distance runners previously unknown to one another — won the hearts of millions all over the world with their humane response. Both the athletes clashed with each other during the Women’s 5,000-meter preliminary race. After the clash, they stopped to help one another . D’Agostino helped Hamblin to get her off the turf. D’Agostino had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament after the clash. The two embraced at the finish line, where D’Agostino was wheeled out as she could no longer walk at all.

This amazing display of sportsmanship has selflessness drew plaudits from around the world and the International Olympic Committee has honoured the two runners by awarding them the International Fair Play Committee Award, which has only been awarded 17 times in Olympics history. This medal is reserved for athletes that have demonstrated the Olympic spirit.

This is a heartwarming story of sportsman spirit, where it can be realized that competitors can be friends and thus instances like these worth a gold medal.

Also Read: On Her Crusing Olympic Dream, She Stops To Help Her Collapsed Rival