Abbey D'Agostino Unable to Compete in 5,000-Meter Final After Pileup Injury

American Olympic runner Abbey D'Agostino, who provided one of the best moments from the 2016 Rio Games by helping New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin up and encouraging her to finish after the two collided during the 5,000-meter first round on Tuesday, will not be able to take part in Friday's final.  

Per ESPN.com news services, an MRI revealed D'Agostino suffered a torn ACL, a meniscus tear and a strained MCL in her right knee because of the collision. 

D'Agostino issued a statement on Wednesday about the events that occurred on the track and the injury that will prevent her from running in Rio de Janeiro in two days:

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Although my actions were instinctual at that moment, the only way I can and have rationalized it is that God prepared my heart to respond that way. This whole time here he's made clear to me that my experience in Rio was going to be about more than my race performance -- and as soon as Nikki got up I knew that was it.

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D'Agostino added that "the best part of my experience of the Olympics has been the community it creates, what the Games symbolizes." 

Per Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times, Hamblin expressed her gratitude toward D'Agostino for helping her after everything went down:

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I’m so grateful for Abbey for doing that for me. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I’ve never met her before. I’ve never met this girl before, and isn’t that just so amazing? 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.’

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Fellow American runner Emma Coburn, who won a bronze in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Monday, tweeted out support for her injured countrywoman:

Following the collision between the two athletes, D'Agostino wound up limping past the finish line in 17 minutes, 10.02 seconds. Hamblin crossed the finish line in 16:43.61, but both women received a spot in the final following a protest. 

Unfortunately, because of D'Agostino's injury, she will not get one more moment in the spotlight to showcase her talents. She has embodied all that fans, athletes and analysts want sports to be, which is a victory in itself.