American Woman Earns Olympic Medal Only 17 People Have Ever Received After Her Fall On Track

Weasel Zippers

"The real spirit of the Olympics.

"Via IJR:

American runner Abbey D’Agostino didn’t realize how badly she was hurt when she stopped to make sure that fellow runner Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) would be able to get up and keep running after a fall on the track.

But when D’Agostino went down in pain just a few seconds after helping her competitor, Hamblin stopped and returned the favor.

Both were granted spots in the final, but due to injuries sustained in their crash, D’Agostino was pulled from the race entirely and Hamblin finished last. Despite the fact that they would leave Rio without fulfilling their Olympic dreams, both remained surprisingly positive:

D’Agostino: “This whole time here [God] has made clear to me that my experience in Rio was going to be about more than my race performance — and as soon as Nikki got up I knew that was it.”

Hamblin: “You can make friends in the moments that really should break your heart.”

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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2nd LT Sam Kendricks stops mid-run to stand at attention when he hears the national anthem.

Olympics were so much more than swmmers in a gas station.
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