BackRio Olympics and the rare fourth medal
The two female long distance runners who won hearts with their selfless act
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The Olympic Games are not always about Citius, Altius, Fortius. Neither is it about winning all the times. Beyond podium finishes and shining medals in gold, silver and bronze, there is a lesser known, almost fourth medal at the Olympics that is given to sportspersons, officials or promoters for showing true sportsmanship during the Games or through exceptional service to the Olympic movement.
The Pierre de Coubertin medal, named in honour of the founder of the International Olympic Committee, is so rare that it has been given to only 17 people since it was inaugurated in 1964. To put it into perspective, 17 medals have been awarded across 30 Summer Olympics and 22 Winter Olympics.
The first awards were given to Germany’s Luz Long (posthumously) for showing true sportsmanship during the 1936 Summer Olympics and Eugenio Monti of Italy for his performance during the 1964 Games.
The most well-known recipient of the award is Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. Lima, who lit the Olympic flame at the Maracanã during the opening ceremony in Rio, was attacked by spectators and pushed off the road during the 2004 Athens Games which cost him the first and the second places. He, however, overcame the break in rhythm and claimed the bronze medal.
He was later awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal.
This year, there were reports that suggested two female long-distance runners have won the award.
Abbey D’Agostino of the US and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand helped each other finish the race after a mid-race accident during their 5,000m semi-final heat.
Seventeen athletes started the race. All eyes were on Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia, the world record holder in the 10,000m.
Four laps into the race, Hamblin stumbled on the inside line and tripped over. D’Agostino, who was just behind Hamblin, clipped her and fell over as well, hurting her knee. The last runner jumped over them and went ahead. With each passing second, the duo’s chances to make it to the final race were getting away swiftly. But D’Agostino stopped and helped Hamblin get back on her feet.
Few metres after their restart, D’Agostino was in severe pain and fell again. This time, Hamblin was there to pick her up. It was the Olympics. They had both gone through a lot to reach here. They had to finish the race. That’s what mattered.
D’Agostino finished the race, far behind the five qualifiers, but when she did, Hamblin was there at the finish line with a smile and a hug. They might not have qualified for the 5,000m finals but, even in failing, they gave the world of sports a moment of pride.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted both the athletes a spot in the finals but D’Agostino could not make it to the race due to injuries.
D’Agostino and Hamblin both left Rio without a medal, the former on crutches with a knee that needed medical attention, but they had left a mark on the Games.
The two athletes were later given the Fair Play Award by the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), which is supported by the IOC.
Hamblin, 28, said the award was very special for both the athletes. “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 favour. […] Once you are on the track, there is a mutual understanding of what it takes to get there," she was quoted as saying on the Olympics website.
They might have missed the coveted fourth medal but they showed the true Olympic spirit that got the entire stadium cheering for them.
At a press conference on Saturday, IOC president Thomas Bach praised both the athletes while summarizing some of the highlights of the Games.
“Nothing better illustrates the Olympic spirit than the attitude of these athletes," said Bach.
That they won the Fair Play award is clear. What is not clear is whether it is the same as the Pierre de Coubertin medal. Many news websites claimed that they had won the latter only to correct themselves later. The official website of the Olympics does not have any news on this.
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