Hungarian hurdle jumper Luca Kozák is being commended internationally for showing that sportsmanship is alive and well at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Kozák did not make it past the finish line in the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles, she lost her balance midway and was unable to get over the seventh hurdle.
Photo: Zsolt Czeglédi/MTI
At the same spot a few lanes down, Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson had fallen mid-race as well. Both remained on the ground, Kozák having been brought to tears as the other contenders finished the race.
Photo: Zsolt Czeglédi/MTI
After a few seconds, the Hungarian athlete got up and helped Thompson to her feet. Not only did she receive a lengthy applause from the 70-thousand-person stadium, but her gesture of good will was even shared by the Olympics’ official twitter page.
This. This is what the Olympics are about. 🇭🇺❤️🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/f2iCNYNouf
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 1, 2021
Kozák later told M4 Sport that she had not expected this result, but that this will not be her last Olympics.
“This is what happens when I do not listen to myself, I just go forward. I am overwhelmed with feelings right now, I did not come out here for it to end like this. But I will have another Olympics.”
Photo: Zsolt Czeglédi/MTI
In the featured photo, Luca Kozák helps up Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson after both contenders of the women’s 100m hurdles were unable to make it past the finish line. Featured photo via Eurosport.