Abby D’Agostino limped to Olympic fame after acting selflessly on her opponent’s behalf. Her legend is about to grow a little larger.
USA Track and Field announced Wednesday that D’Agostino suffered a serious knee injury during the collision with Nikki Hamblin that led to an inspirational moment at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. MRI results revealed that D’Agostino tore her ACL and meniscus and strained her MCL. Nevertheless, she finished the race.
D’Agostino famously helped Hamlin to her feet and urged her to continue running because “It’s the Olympic Games. We have to finish this,” Hamlin said. Doing so, assured D’Agostino that she wouldn’t progress in the women’s 5,000-meter competition.
Those wondering whether D’Agostino already felt the pain of the injury and knew she no longer had a chance to win the heat are wrong. The 24-year-old Topsfield, Mass., native said she acted with the help of a higher power.
“Although my actions were instinctual at that moment, the only way I can and have rationalized it is that God prepared my heart to respond that way,” she said. “This whole time here he’s made clear to me that my experience in Rio was going to be about more than my race performance — and as soon as Nikki got up I knew that was it.”
Hamin said D’Agostino embodied the Olympic spirit. Such sacrifice and perseverance, especially in light of her own setback, is nothing short of divine.
Thumbnail photo via James Lang/USA TODAY Sports Images
