New England Olympian receives sportsmanship award for helping competitor
Topsfield native Abbey D’Agostino may not have medaled in the women’s 5,000-meter in Rio, but she still received an award for her Olympic effort.
D’Agostino was one of the recipients of the Fair Play awards, the International Olympic Committee announced Saturday. The award recognizes “selflessness and exemplary sportsmanship,” the IOC said.
She received the award with New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin, with whom she shared a touching moment during a 5000-meter qualifying race last Tuesday.
With less than half the race left, Hamblin tripped and fell, also bringing down D’Agostino, who was directly behind her in the large pack of runners. D’Agostino immediately popped up, but instead of running ahead to make up lost time, she turned to Hamblin, who was still on the ground.
She helped Hamblin up, telling her, “We have to finish this race.”
D’Agostino, who ran for Dartmouth College, suffered a complete tear of her right ACL, a meniscus tear, and a strained MCL during the fall, but Hamblin supported her until she could continue on her own. Both finished the qualifying race and were allowed to compete in the final, because the fall was not their fault. D’Agostino was unable to run due to her injuries; instead, she cheered on Hamblin from the stands.
The sportsmanlike moment sparked a friendship between two athletes who hadn’t met before the race.
“I am so grateful to Abbey for doing that for me,” Hamblin said after the race. “That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I am so impressed and inspired.”
Watch here:
After colliding, @abbey_dags (#USA) & @NikkiHamblin (#NZL) show true #Olympic spirit. https://t.co/LJf9pvPIbV https://t.co/HTfixzxCVS
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 16, 2016
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