Just over 3,000 meters into a semifinal of the women’s 5,000 meters, Team USA’s Abbey D’Agostino clipped the heel of Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand. Hamblin went down, and D’Agostino couldn’t stay up behind her as both runners fell to the track. The two athletes helped one another up, and attempted to start chasing after the pack that had left them.
D’Agostino couldn’t keep going, though. Her knee had twisted awkwardly in the fall, and it didn’t have the strength to keep going. She told Hamblin to go on as she went to all fours on the track. The camera cut away to show the race’s leaders — it appeared D’Agostino’s Olympics (her first) were done.
But D’Agostino wouldn’t quit. The camera came back to D’Agostino and she was running again. She had found her way to her feet and kept on going.
Almaz Ayana won the heat in 15:04.35, and Hamblin, who continued on as well, ran 16:43. D’Agostino, who has run 15:03 in the event, finished last in 17:10.02.
There weren’t tears at the finish line for D’Agostino, though — instead, a smile. Waiting for her was Hamblin. The two competitors hugged, giving everyone that prime example of what people call Olympic Spirit.
The perseverance paid off for D’Agostino. Because the fall was not her fault, she was advanced through to the Olympic final. She’ll race again on Friday in Rio. Her Olympic journey continues.