The Olympic spirit was alive and well in Tokyo on Sunday when two runners dramatically crashed out of the 800 metres semi-finals before helping each other up and jogging side by side over the finish line.
Gold-medal favourite Nijel Amos, of Botswana, was attempting to make his move rounding the final bend when he clipped the heel of America’s Isaiah Jewett in front of him.
Both men tumbled to the track and could only watch as the field sprinted off into the distance.
There were no hard feelings from either party, with Jewett offering his hand to help Amos his feet before the pair jogged the remainder of the race in unison.
The episode evoked memories of a similar collision at Rio 2016, when American Abbey D’Agostino and Nikki Hamblin, of New Zealand, crashed into each other in the 5,000m heats.
The two women helped each other up and both managed to finish the race despite D’Agostino tearing her cruciate ligament in the fall. They were given clearance to advance to the final, although only Hamblin was fit to compete.
Both runners were presented with the Pierre de Coubertin medal, awarded to those who exemplify the Olympic spirit.