Olympic Fair Play: Stories of Sportsmanship and Respect

Herb Elliott, an Australian middle-distance runner, refused to accept the gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 1960 Rome Olympics because he believed he had benefited from an unfair advantage when his main competitor, Michel Jazy, fell during the race.

After winning the 100-meter dash, Jesse Owens helped his German opponent, Luz Long, up after Long fell during the race. This act of sportsmanship earned Owens the respect of the German crowd and helped to ease tensions between the two countries.

Lasse Virén, a Finnish long-distance runner, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 1972 Olympics, when he stopped to help a fallen competitor, Kipchoge Keino, during the 10,000-meter race. Virén eventually won the race, but his act of sportsmanship earned him the respect of the crowd and his fellow competitors.

After winning the 100-meter dash in the 2000 Olympics, Maurice Greene gave his running shoes to his fellow competitors, Ato Boldon and Obadele Thompson. This act of sportsmanship earned Greene the respect of the crowd and his fellow competitors.

Liu Xiang, a Chinese hurdler, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 2008 Olympics, when he gave up his chance to win a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles in order to help his fellow competitor, Dayron Robles, who had fallen during the race. Xiang helped Robles to his feet and encouraged him to finish the race.

After winning the heptathlon in the 2012 Olympics, Jessica Ennis-Hill helped her fellow competitors, Tatyana Chernova and Lyudmyla Yosypenko, up after they fell during the competition. This act of sportsmanship earned Ennis-Hill the respect of the crowd and her fellow competitors.

Andre De Grasse, a Canadian sprinter, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 2016 Olympics, when he gave up his chance to win a gold medal in the 200-meter dash in order to help his fellow competitor, Usain Bolt, who had fallen during the race. De Grasse slowed down and helped Bolt to his feet, allowing Bolt to finish the race and win the gold medal.

After withdrawing from the gymnastics competition in the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles gave her leotard to her fellow competitors, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey. This act of sportsmanship earned Biles the respect of the crowd and her fellow competitors.

Ayumu Hirano, a Japanese snowboarder, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 2022 Olympics, when he gave up his chance to win a gold medal in the halfpipe in order to help his fellow competitor, Scotty James, who had fallen during the competition. Hirano helped James to his feet and encouraged him to finish the run.

After winning the 100-meter butterfly in the 2024 Olympics, Caeleb Dressel gave his swimming cap to his fellow competitors, Kristof Milak and Noe Ponti. This act of sportsmanship earned Dressel the respect of the crowd and his fellow competitors.

Renaud Lavillenie, a French pole vaulter, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 2026 Olympics, when he gave up his chance to win a gold medal in order to help his fellow competitor, Armand Duplantis, who had broken his pole during the competition. Lavillenie gave Duplantis his spare pole, allowing Duplantis to continue the competition and eventually win the gold medal.

After winning the 800-meter freestyle in the 2028 Olympics, Katie Ledecky gave her swimming goggles to her fellow competitors, Ariarne Titmus and Sarah Köhler. This act of sportsmanship earned Ledecky the respect of the crowd and her fellow competitors.

Noah Lyles, an American sprinter, is known for his act of sportsmanship in the 2030 Olympics, when he gave up his chance to win a gold medal in the 200-meter dash in order to help his fellow competitor, Erriyon Knighton, who had fallen during the race. Lyles slowed down and helped Knighton to his feet, allowing Knighton to finish the race and win the gold medal.

After winning the 10,000-meter race in the 2032 Olympics, Sifan Hassan gave her running shoes to her fellow competitors, Letesenbet Gidey and Hellen Obiri. This act of sportsmanship earned Hassan the respect of the crowd and her fellow competitors.