USA's Abbey D'Agostino tripped over New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin during Tuesday's 5000-meter preliminary. The tumble knocked both out of contention in the heat, but D'Agostino and Hamblin still created one of the most powerful moments of the Rio Olympics.
Abby D'Agostino making America proud! #heartofachampion #respect pic.twitter.com/QYtCE3cJXK
— AC Friars Lacrosse (@friars_lacrosse) August 16, 2016
At first, it was Hamblin struggling to pick herself up off the track. D'Agostino stayed back from the pack to help Hamblin, who seconds earlier had foiled D'Agostino's race.
After colliding, @abbey_dags (#USA) & @NikkiHamblin (#NZL) show true #Olympic spirit. https://t.co/LJf9pvPIbV https://t.co/HTfixzxCVS
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 16, 2016
Moments later, it was Hamblin becoming the helper. D'Agostino limped down the track, clearly in more pain than Hamblin. D'Agostino dropped to the ground a few yards from the fall, but Hamblin stuck around to help her up.
Olympic Spirit at its finest—#USA's Abbey D'Agostino and #NZL's Nikki Hamblin help each other over the line #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/U9EXZPJEW9
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 16, 2016
D'Agostino was taken off the track on a stretcher after grinding her way to the finish line, running for pride.
According to Hamblin, she had never met D'Agostino before, but when the two made the initial fall, D'Agostino, a 24-year-old from Topsfield, Massachusetts, called for the duo to keep themselves moving.
"There's this hand on my shoulder like, 'Get up, get up, we have to finish this,'" Hamblin says. "I'm so grateful for Abbey for doing that for me. I mean, that girl is the Olympic spirit right there."
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
Also, good karma is apparently a thing. Both D'Agostino and Hamblin were granted tickets to the 5000 m final, as they were deemed not at fault for their fall.
BREAKING: @abbey_dags & #TeamUSA have successfully protested & she’s been advanced to the 5000m final. #Rio2016
— USATF (@usatf) August 16, 2016
Nikki Hamblin story gets better. She's been added to the final after her fall in the 5000m heat #Rio2016
— Kimberlee Downs (@KimberleeDowns) August 16, 2016
If both are able to race, a medal is not out of the question yet. The final is Friday evening.
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Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.