Athletes help each other up after tripping in poignant show of Olympic spirit

The history of the Olympics is well populated with iconic moments that have helped define the spirit of sportsmanship of the Games.

It received a new addition during Tuesday's women's 5,000m heats, when American Abbey D'Agostino stopped to help New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin up after the two became entangled and tripped over each other.

D'Agostino got to her feet first, but rather than race on, she stopped to help her rival.

As it became clear that D'Agostino had a right ankle injury, Hamblin tried to help her continue.

D'Agostino appeared to be the most injured, but she hobbled through the rest of the race to finish more than 26 adrift in last.

Hamblin came second last, herself more than 26 seconds behind the rest of the field. She waited at the finishing point to embrace D'Agostino as the American crossed the line.

D'Agostino was taken off the track in a wheelchair, with both progressing to the final on appeal.

Hamblin was quoted assaying: "That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I went down and I was like, 'What's happening? Why am I on the ground?'

"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'.

She added: "I've never met this girl before and isn't that just so amazing? Such an amazing woman. Regardless of the race and the result on the board, that's a moment that you're never ever going to forget for the rest of your life, that girl shaking my shoulder, like, 'Come on, get up'."