The Olympic Games are about more than the win, the medals or the record-setting performances. At their core, they are about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. They are about fair play and the human spirit.
Nobody has epitomized these values more at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 than runners Abbey D’Agostino (USA) and Nikki Hamblin (NZL).

The D’Agostino and Hamblin story is one of humanity and sacrifice, which has already captured the hearts of people across the globe. New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin tripped and fell to the ground during the 5,000m race, accidentally bringing American D’Agostino down behind her with around 2,000m to go. The 24-year-old D’Agostino was quick to get up again, yet instead of carrying on with her race she stopped to help the stricken Hamblin to her feet, encouraging her to join her in attempting to finish the race. However, during her tumble, D’Agostino suffered an ankle injury, slowing the runner down, but Hamblin sportingly hung back to in return offer her encouragements. The two women went on to complete the race together.

Speaking of this recognition after the ceremony, 28-year-old Nikki Hamblin said: “I think it’s very special for both Abbey and myself. I don’t think either of us woke up and thought that that was going to be our day, or our race, or our Olympic Games. Both of us are strong competitors and we wanted to go out there and do our best on the track.”
She added: “I was on the ground for too long to get back up and catch on to the pack. So then it becomes about finishing the race and finishing the race well. I am so grateful to Abbey for picking me up, and I think many people would have returned the favor. Once you are on the track, there is a mutual understanding of what it takes to get there.”

The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), presented them with Fair Play awards at the Olympic Club in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro for the act of selflessness and exemplary sportsmanship.

And we have to admit that despite they didn’t win the Olympic Medals, they became the big winners anyway and the examples of real #fairplay, #humanity, and #respect.

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