Wouldn’t it be great if sportsmanship won the day in more sporting events? Let me give you a scenario.
What would you do if you were running a prestigious race and were in fourth place coming to the finish line, but the runner in front of you mistakenly took the wrong direction to the finish line just 100 meters away?
If you sprint ahead, you’ll capture third place and medal. But maybe you think the other runner deserves the medal? Do you go for fame or for doing the right thing?
A Triathlete With A Choice To Make
Well, this is exactly what transpired in a triathlon event. A Spanish triathlete, Diego Méntriga, was faced with this dilemma. British triathlete James Teagle took the wrong turn despite leading Méntriga for most of the race.
Méntriga goes all in on sportsmanship and slows down, eventually stopping so that Teagle can overtake him at the finish line.
“Seeing how he was wrong, unconsciously, I stopped. He deserved it,” said Mentriga, “When I saw that he had missed the route, I just stopped. James deserved this medal. He didn’t notice the signs, or they were misaligned. I don’t know, but I would have acted the same the second time.”
Méntriga may have finished fourth place at this triathlon in 2021, but his classy move won many hearts. As you can see from the video below, James Teagle was very touched by this gesture of sportsmanship.
Race Video
Race officials, touched by Mentriga’s display of sportsmanship, decided to also award him an honorary third place and 250 pounds. Their statement read, “These gestures are what make organizing these events worth it. Congratulations, Diego,”
The race’s winner, Javier Gomez Noya, described Mentriga’s gesture as “the best in history.”
Mentriga’s sporting move touched many around the world.
“I love, love this story. I know it’s Sunday and all that, but I cried, it made me cry, ” wrote actor Will Smith on his Instagram account, “I just like integrity; this is integrity on full display. You’re my dude, Diego, I appreciate you.”
“This is something that my parents and my Ecosport Triathlon group taught me since I was a kid,” Mentriga wrote on Instagram.
“In my opinion, this is something that should be considered as a typical situation. I never thought that something like this would reach so far and have so much impact across the media. But I’m proud to receive so much love.”
The person most affected by Mentriga’s kind move was Teagle. He said: “I suppose it just shows massive integrity and great sportsmanship, and I think people have really taken it to heart. It’s gone all over the world, and it’s incredible just to see that and people valuing that sportsmanship.”
Well done, Diego Mentriga.
Sportsmanship in Running
Check out Meghan Vogel’s sportsmanship back in 2012. Vogel was one of the top seeds in the race. She carried a fallen runner across the finish line. In the process, she finished in last place but showed folks what the spirit of high school sports is all about.
And, in this case, Kayla Samuel ran arm-in-arm with a struggling runner.
Good sportsmanship is contagious. The three examples above are great opportunities for young athletes to learn from. Sportsmanship wins the day!
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
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