Rio 2016 Olympics - At the Olympics, the official Olympics account tweeted, it's not always about winning.
At the #Olympics, it's not always about winning.
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 16, 2016
.@abbey_dags @NikkiHamblin pic.twitter.com/P6f9UufM92
In the fourth lap of her 5000m heat, Hamblin tripped and fell along with US runner Abbey D'Agostino.
"Then suddenly this hand on my shoulder, like 'Get up, get up, we have to finish this' and I was like, 'Yup, yup, you're right. This is the Olympic Games. We have to finish this.'
"I'm never going to forget that moment," Hamblin said. "When someone asks me what happened in Rio in 20 years' time, that's my story."
The moment has been hailed as a piece of Olympic history.
So sad for Nikki Hamblin, but SUPER proud to see her checking the American was okay @nzolympics #NZL
— Brandon Clarke (@kiwibardy) August 16, 2016
It's nice when you get reminded that sports and sportsmanship should always be linked https://t.co/fA74fSeBom
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) August 17, 2016
Olympic Spirit at its finest—#USA's Abbey D'Agostino and #NZL's Nikki Hamblin help each other over the line #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/U9EXZPJEW9
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 16, 2016
The Los Angeles Times called Hamblin and D'Agostino the "real winners" of Rio.
The Independent said the athletes "embody [the] Olympic Spirit," even if one commenter thought the moment showed why the two would "never win any medals" (perhaps missing the fact the race was a heat).
NY Mag's headline for the story is a bit more overwrought: "Tripped-Up Olympic Runners Finish Race Together in Apparent Attempt to Make Me Weep Uncontrollably at My Desk", while The Telegraph went with the tried and true "Olympic spirit."
The moment even got some love from New Zealand's traditional rivals. "In an Olympic Games marred by accusations of doping and ill-will between nations," wrote the Sydney Morning Herald's Michael Gleeson and Daniel Cherny, "this was a moment to help restore faith in the ideals of sportsmanship".
#rio2016 Abbey D'Agnostino of #USA and Nikki Hamblin of #NZL embody a perfect world, neighbour helping neighbour. #inspire
— longshanks (@36kerry36) August 16, 2016
Abbey D'Agnostino and Nikki Hamblin displaying the spirit of the Olympics right there! Brought a tear to my eye. Love it. #Rio2016
— Joanna Marshall (@monajarshall) August 16, 2016
Buzzfeed got in on the tears, saying "I am crying. A lot." The BBC played it a lot straighter, stating simply "Rio Olympics 2016: US and NZ runners help each other".
Whatever happens in Friday's final, the moment will be remembered more fondly than another famous women's track moment - the collision between Zola Budd and Mary Decker in 1984.
