Dorchester at the Olympics: Nikki Hamblin

 

The first of these was Nikki Hamblin who took home a rather unusual medal from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

 

Dorchester-born Nikki Hamblin joined her local athletic club (Dorchester Athletic Club!) in 2000 and immediately impressed by winning the Most Promising Newcomer award for 2001. Under the skilled coaching of Nick Nicholson, Nikki went from strength to strength. It was at the English Schools Championships that Nikki really showed her amazing talent by winning three successive 800m titles between 2002 and 2004.  

 

Her track successes, coupled with her personality led to her being awarded the British Athletics Supporters Club athlete of the year. 

 

Her life then took a major turn as she moved to New Zealand on work experience, fell in love and did not to return. Changing her national allegiance to New Zealand Nikki started an outstanding new athletic career, winning national championships, setting New Zealand records and having great success on the international circuit. 

 

Her talent was recognised by national selectors and she ran for NZ in world championships and Commonwealth Games. 

 

Nikki’s greatest Commonwealth Games performances were in Delhi in 2010. At the height of her career Nikki won silver medals in both the 800m and 1500m. 

 

Injuries and other problems meant Nikki’s sole Olympic participation was in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. And what a dramatic participation it was. 

 

Competing in the heat of the 5000m, Nikki was being closely followed by American runner Abbey D’Agostino with just four laps still to run. 

 

Suddenly something caused D’Agostino to fall. In so doing she also clipped Nikki’s heel and she fell too. Instead of trying to continue the race the two athletes, strangers to each other, chose to give their opponent a helping hand. 

 

Although dazed the two athletes picked each other up and tried to help each other to finish the race, way behind the other competitors 

 

The act of mutual kindness did not go unrewarded and each athlete was awarded the “Rio 2016 Fair Play Award” 

 

It will be a long time before the courage and sportsmanship of the two women will be forgotten.