A HEARTWARMING moment unfolded at the World Athletics Championships as a runner sacrificed his race to help an injured rival.
Tim van de Velde and Carlos San Martin took part in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase heats in Tokyo.
Tim Van De Velde showed brilliant sportsmanship to help Carlos San Martin
San Martin was really struggling in the 3000m Steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships
Van de Velve turned around on the track to help his rival
Van de Velde and San Martin crossed the line together
The pair struggled to keep pace with the front-runners and slipped to the back.
But as Belgian Van de Velde headed for the finishing line, he realised his fellow competitor was struggling.
San Martin was so exhausted and clearly struggling physically after colliding with a barrier.
So much so, he did not jump over the final hurdle – but instead clambered over it.
Van de Velde noticed and turned around on the track to jog the wrong way away from the line.
He put his arm around the Colombian, who reciprocated the classy gesture.
They then hobbled across the line together in a wonderful act of sportsmanship.
But in a cruel twist of fate, San Martin – who was taken away in a wheelchair – officially crossed the line before Van de Velde.
Their respective times of 9:02.20 and 9:02.21 were the slowest two efforts across all three heats as both men failed to qualify for the final.
But while Van de Velde will not win a medal, he did win plenty of respect with his brilliant selfless behaviour.
One fan wrote on social media: “That’s what sport’s really about. Competition fades, but moments of respect and humanity like this stick forever.”
Another said: “Brothers in arms.”
A third added: “Acts like this highlight how sport functions not only as competition but as a cultural ritual of solidarity. The narrative transcends performance metrics.”
And a final user typed: “Nicely done Tim.”
Elsewhere, Britain’s relay runners flopped on day one of the .
The mixed 4×400 metres quartet could only finish a frustrating fifth in one of the first track finals.
Van de Velde technically finished after San Martin
Colombia’s San Martin needed to be helped away in a wheelchair
Last year at the highest level, Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson and Amber Anning claimed bronze in the inaugural event at the Paris Olympics.
This time they trailed behind new world champions, the United States – who posted a Championship record of 3:08.80 – as Olympic champions Holland and Belgium took silver and bronze respectively.
This had been one of the medal bankers for the UK Athletics squad but the new-look line-up of Lewis Davey, Emily Newnham, Toby Harries and Nicole Yeargin could only run 3:10.84.
In the men’s 100 metres heats, Romell Glave posted a personal best time of 10 seconds flat as he came fourth in an extremely fast heat one.
Jeremiah Azu (10.10 seconds) and national-record holder Zharnel Hughes (10.06 seconds) all qualified for the semi-finals.
In the women’s sprints, Daryll Neita won heat five with a season’s best of 10.94 seconds while teammate Dina Asher-Smith was second in heat two with 11.07 seconds.
In the women’s 10,000 metres final, Brits Megan Keith was tenth (31:33.85) while Calli Hauger-Thackery was a place back with a mark of 31:37.81.
Laura Muir’s poor season continued as she failed to progress from the heats of the women’s 1500 metres – despite her multiple medals at global level.
