For a number of dumb reasons not worth going into that mainly include "trying to go to bed early," I haven't been following the Olympics much, despite the fact that I love watching the long-distance running events. Now I shall eat crow, because I missed something amazing today: not any amassing of gold medals (although everyone named Simone involved in these Olympics has my utmost respect), but a display of sportsmanlike (sportspersonlike?) conduct in the women's 5000-meter run. Runners to your marks, set:
After colliding, @abbey_dags (#USA) &@NikkiHamblin (#NZL) show true #Olympic spirit. https://t.co/LJf9pvPIbVhttps://t.co/HTfixzxCVS
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 16, 2016
It's kind of hard to follow in the video, but basically, New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin fell during the second heat of the women's 5000. The United States' Abbey D'Agostino, who was behind Hamblin, clipped Hamblin's leg and also fell.
D'Agostino pulled herself up, but Hamblin was struggling, so instead of trying to get back to the pack (which seems statistically impossible given how fast Olympic runners can go), D'Agostino helped Hamblin get up and encouraged her to finish.
Then D'Agostino's knee gave out, and she collapsed again, and Hamblin helped her up. They both finished the race, in last and second-to-last place, with D'Agostino obviously in a huge amount of pain as she finished "for pride."
Let me repeat that: She could barely walk—she left the arena in a wheelchair—but D'Agostino finished the race for pride.
After the race, they hugged, and Hamblin said this:
Here is what Nikki Hamblin had to say about Abbey D'Agostino after their collision in today's Olympic 5,000m heat. pic.twitter.com/HxTFsKkcZy
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) August 16, 2016
As a recovering competitive distance runner, watching this made me tear up, not because it's surprising, but because it's exactly what I would expect of the kindhearted weirdos in even the highest echelon of the world of long distance running.
Distance runners: They have made a questionable life choice, but they are special people who know the value of endurance and teamwork, which most of us are more likely to encounter as empty platitudes on uninspiring inspirational posters.
In conclusion: IN TRACK AND FIELD, NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND. Also, distance runners are some of the hardest motherfuckers you'll ever meet.
Because they didn't scratch by not finishing and the fall was found to be the fault of neither competitor, Hamblin and D'Agostino will both be able to run in the finals, despite their low placement.
Okay, fine, Olympics. You have my attention.