A day after Abbey D'Agostino made headlines by helping up her competitor following a fall on the world's biggest stage, the American distance runner has learned that she will miss the 5,000m final with a knee injury.
D'Agostino collided with New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin a little over halfway into Tuesday's second heat of the 5,000m qualifier. D’Agostino was able to get to her feet first. But instead of running off to re-join the pack, she made sure to help an injured Hamblin to her feet.
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
"I've never met this girl before," Hamblin said, according to the New York Daily News. "That's an amazing moment. Regardless of the race and the result on the board, that's a moment that you're never, ever going to forget."
Incredibly, D’Agostino finished the 2,000m remaining in the race despite tearing her ACL and meniscus and also straining her MCL, finishing in 30th place. Hamblin finished in 29th.
The two shared a hug at the finish line, and a handshake before D’Agostino was taken off the track in a wheelchair.
Both racers were added to the women’s 5,000m finals on Saturday because the fall was determined to be the fault of neither runner. D'Agostino will not compete because of her injury.
D’Agostino was a four-time NCAA national champion Dartmouth in the women's 5,000m, and a seven-time national champion overall.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
