Rio Olympics 2016: Inspirational athletes take centre stage at Games after helping each other to finish race following collision

THIS is the inspirational moment two injured athletes helped each other finish a race at the Rio Olympics.

American Abbey D’Agnostino and New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin were both sent tumbling to the ground during the women’s 5000m earlier today.

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D’Agostino appeared to clip her opponent’s heel as the pair collapsed, with both sustaining injuries.

D’Agostino lifted Hamblin off the ground, but it soon became the clear the American had come off worse as she urged her rival to carry on without her.

But Hamblin was having none of it, and the duo continued to run for a short time before D’Agostino let Hamblin move ahead.

The Kiwi ended up finishing with a time of 16.43, over a minute-and-a-half behind heat winner Almaz Ayana, with D’Agostino finishing last in 17.10.

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Hamblin waited for her competitor at the finish line and the pair shared a warm embrace as D’Agostino was taken away in a wheelchair.

Reflecting on the moment, Hamblin said: “When I went down, I was like, ‘What’s happening, why am I on the ground?’ And suddenly there’s this hand on my shoulder like, ‘Get up, get up, we have to finish this.

“I’m so grateful for Abbey for doing that for me. I mean, that girl is the Olympic spirit right there. I’m so impressed and inspired she did that. I’ve never met her before. And isn’t that just so amazing?”