Crossing the finish line in 10th and 11th is not how either Tim Van de Velde or Carlos San Martín would have been picturing the men’s 3,000m steeplechase qualifier on Saturday.
But the Belgian’s remarkable show of sportsmanship meant that the image may be remembered as one of the defining moments of this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
On the final stretch after every other runner had already finished or left the race, Van de Velde glanced over his shoulder and noticed San Martín stopping to gingerly lift his leg over the last barrier.
The 25-year-old then jogged back to his limping competitor and the two put their arms around each other and crossed the finish line together.
“I saw him stumbling and thought, ‘Why not?’” Van de Velde said per the Associated Press. “We both had bad luck, I guess. Maybe we can share some bad luck together.”
Continue reading the complete article on the original source
