European Athletics Championships: Runners are celebrated for a fair play gesture

Fair play in competitive sports
Runner from Andorra gives you goosebumps at the European Athletics Championships

Big gesture of fair play at the European Athletics Championships: Nahuel Carabaña from Andorra turns around and pulls his fallen colleague Axel Vang Christensen off the track over a 3000 meter obstacle in the European Championship heat

© Matthias Hangst / Getty Images

The entire stadium cheered him on his final meters at the European Athletics Championships. Nahuel Carabaña from Andorra finished last. But before that he had accomplished something really big.

These are moments that competitive sport produces far too rarely. The competition is too great, too much money is usually at stake in the competitions. But when they exist, they warm the hearts of sports fans around the world — whether in the stadium or in front of the screen.

At the European Championships in Athletics, Nahuel Carabaña from Andorra caused such a goosebump moment and was celebrated with ovations by the fans in Munich’s Olympic Stadium.

It happened in the lead over 3000 meters obstacle. The Dane Axel Vang Christensen, who was in the lead, had fallen. Carabaña first ran a few steps past the unlucky raven lying on the ground. Then he turned and walked back to Christensen. Carabaña first tried to help the 18-year-old up and even tried to carry him off the track. In the end, it at least helped him get off the main path a bit.

“He could have been injured more seriously,” said the 22-year-old from Andorra, explaining his motives for the relief effort. He himself was not in good form in the run, so he thought that he could also help his comrade-in-arms. “Maybe I can do something good today, I thought. That’s why I made the decision.”

Fair play runner at European Athletics Championships does not feel like a hero

The Munich audience gave the man from Andorra, who was defeated for this reason, ovations on the final round. “It made me very happy and showed me that I was doing something very good,” said Carabaña. On the way out of the stadium, he was asked whether he felt like the hero of the day. But then he declined. “I don’t feel like a hero. Everyone who is here is a hero,” said Carabaña. “Each of us can do that. We can help each other.”

kng
DPA

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