Rio 2016: Runners display true Oly spirit and get rewarded

Two Olympic athletes who helped each other across the finish line after an accidental mid-race collision in the women's 5,000m have been granted places in the final, organisers confirmed

Rio de Janeiro: Two Olympic athletes who helped each other across the finish line after an accidental mid-race collision in the women's 5,000m have been granted places in the final, organisers confirmed.

Hamblin (right) helps D'Agostino after collision in Rio on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D'Agostino were praised for their sporting behaviour after they clashed during Tuesday's heat.

The drama unfolded when American runner D'Agostino clipped New Zealander Hamblin with around 2,000m to go, sending both sprawling to the ground.

As Hamblin lay on the track distraught, her hopes for an Olympic medal seemingly evaporated, D'Agostino tenderly helped her to her feet and encouraged her to finish the race.

"I went down, and I was like, 'What's happening? Why am I on the ground?' Then suddenly this hand on my shoulder, like 'Get up, get up, we have to finish this' and I was like, 'Yup, yup, you're right. This is the Olympic Games. We have to finish this," Hamblin said.

"I'm so grateful for Abbey. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I've never met her before, like I've never met this girl before, and isn't that just so amazing? Such an amazing woman."

D'Agostino suffered an ankle injury in the collision, but Hamblin deliberately hung back in the field to offer encouragement as the two women completed the race.

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