Topsfield's Abbey D'Agostino Receives Olympic Award for Sportsmanship

She may not leaving Rio with a medal, but Topsfield's Abbey D'Agostino is going home with something awarded to only two runners and a handball team.

Saturday, D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand were presented with the Fair Play award. Wednesday, during a preliminary heat of the 5,000 meter run, the two got tangled up and fell to the track with about 2,000 meters to go. When D'Agostino got up, she helped Hamblin to her feet and encouraged her to finish the race. Both women completed the 12.5 laps, with D'Agostino crossing the finish line with what would turn out to be a torn ACL.

"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,” Hamblin told Olympic officials while receiving the award. “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.

The Norwegian men’s handball team also received a Fair Play award.

Image Credit: US Olympic Committee