by Alfonz Juck
Nicki Hamblin and Abby D’Agostino, Rio 2016, photo by PhotoRun.net
Abbey D’Agostino and Nicki Hamblin, Rio 2016, photo by PhotoRun.net
2016 personalities by Spikes
MONACO (MON): Spikes.iaaf.org published their personalities of 2016 in athletics. This are the names beyond the medal podium and their roles as ambassadors for the sport of track and field are just as important. Canadian walker Evan Dunfee as he did not filled another protest after counter-protest from Japan after the olympic 50 km race. Major Tim Peake for running a marathon in space on a intergalactic treadmill. Tegla Loroupe as Chef de Mission for the Olympic Refugee team. Piotr Malachowski who donated the funds for olympic silver to Olek Szymanski, the three year old son of family friends to have treatment for a rare form of cancer. Gabriele Grunewald having already bounced back twice from cancer and following successful surgery, she is already back running. Alexi Pappas who competed for Greece in the Olympic 10 000 m also released TrackTown, a film she directed and starred in, to sell-out screenings across the USA, has become a regular correspondent for the New York Times, and appeared on the anniversary cover of Runners’ World alongside pint-sized comic megastar Kevin Hart. Syrian high jumper Majd Eddin Ghazal who in preparation for Rio 2016 trained at a Damascus stadium that boasted only “an old landing area, several hurdles and one weight”. Despite that, he was one of the best high jumpers in the world in 2016. Ed Whitlock who at the age of 85 became the oldest man in history to break four hours for the marathon, running 3:56:38 at the 2016 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. And finally New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and USA’s Abbey D’Agostino who accidently tangled with each other in the 5000 m heats at Rio 2016. First, D’Agostino helped Hamblin to her feet, before herself falling, clearly stricken. Hamblin automatically returned the favour. And they were strangers before the race. Writes the Spikes.
