Crossing the finish line in tenth and eleventh will not be how both 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 exceptional present of sportsmanship meant that the picture could also be remembered as one of many defining moments of this yr’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
On the ultimate stretch after each different runner had already completed or left the race, Van de Velde glanced over his shoulder and seen San Martín stopping to gingerly raise his leg during the last barrier.
The 25-year-old then jogged again to his limping competitor and the 2 put their arms around one another and crossed the finish line collectively.
“I saw him stumbling and thought, ‘Why not?’” Van de Velde stated per the Associated Press. “We both had bad luck, I guess. Maybe we can share some bad luck together.”
Just a couple of minutes earlier than, the Belgian had been main the pack however collided with a barrier during the third of the seven-and-a-half laps and fell into the water impediment.
That got here shortly after San Martín had himself clipped a barrier together with his proper foot and fallen ahead onto his palms. After the race, the Colombian left the observe in a wheelchair.
The two incidents meant that neither had an opportunity of creating the highest 5 and progressing to Monday’s closing, prompting Van de Velde’s act of kindness.
“I know what it’s like to feel helpless on the track,” stated the Belgian – who broke his collarbone when he fell ultimately yr’s European Championships in Rome – per the Associated Press.
The warmth was received by Soufiane El Bakkali, who took gold within the occasion at each the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. The Moroccan completed in 8:26.99, 4 fifths of a second forward of world report holder Lamecha Girma in second.
Van de Velde’s sportsmanship meant San Martín truly completed forward of him – the Colombian in 9:02.20, the Belgian in 9:02.21.
“We’re both competitors. We both work very hard,” he added per the Associated Press. “Of course, the main goal was the final and we both had bad luck, so that’s why I did it.”