Editor's note: A previous version of this article inaccurately mentioned that Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D'Agostino have received the Pierre de Coubertin medal. We have since corrected this to reflect that they were awarded the Fair Play awards. They are in line to receive the Pierre de Coubertin medal, but according to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, no such award has been made yet.

You might have seen the heartwarming images of these two runners -- New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin and America's Abbey D'Agostino -- embracing each other on the race track in Rio.

At the #Olympics, it's not always about winning.

.@abbey_dags @NikkiHamblin pic.twitter.com/P6f9UufM92

— Olympics (@Olympics) August 16, 2016

Both women participated in the 5000m heats and helped each other up after they met with a painful collision four laps from the end of the race.

As competitors, the kindness Hamblin and D'Agostino showed captured the essence of the Olympic values, and their display of sportsmanship has earned them the prestigious Fair Play awards presented by International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Both runners could potentially receive the Pierre de Coubertin medal as well.

Named after the founder of the International Olympic Commitee, this fourth Olympic medal given to those who epitomise the spirit of sportsmanship is extremely rare -- it has only been given out 17 times since 1964.

The Pierre de Coubertin medal is awarded to athletes who exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship in the #Olympics. pic.twitter.com/XdlhDhi0T8

— Farhan (@farhanshabri) August 21, 2016

Hamblin, who had been running with a mass of other athletes tripped and fell face first, causing D'Agostino, who was running right behind, to hit the ground sideways.

D'Agostino got up immediately and pulled Hamblin, who was laying in a foetal position, on her feet as well.

Moments later, D'Agostino stuck the track again in severe pain -- stricken from an injury as a result of the collision.

Hamblin -- who promptly forgot the race and potential Olympic medal -- refused to leave the American runner's side until she was brought away in a wheelchair.

They later embraced when Hamblin crossed the finish line. The two were widely lauded for their display of sportsmanship and above all, the embodiment of the Olympic spirit.

Despite not meeting the qualifying time for the heat, both runners were granted a concession to partake in the finals. Hamblin finished 17th in the race, clocking a time of 16 minutes 14.24 seconds. D'Agostino did not participate due to her injury.

In 2014, Singapore lawyer Michael Hwang was honoured with the Pierre de Coubertin medal for his contributions to the International Council of Arbitration for Sport and Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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Top image via Olympics, farhanshabri Twitter

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