'I can only share her pain': Laotian sprinter embodies Olympic spirit after rival goes down injured
The sight of South Sudanese sprinter Lucia Moris crashing to the ground during her women's 100m sprint preliminary heat would have been tough viewing for the runner's family and friends from the African nation.
But before medical staff quickly rushed to her aid as she appeared to be in severe pain, Laotian sprinter Silina Pha Aphay, running from lane two, noticed a blur on her left crumble halfway through the race.
Pha Aphay crossed in 12.45 seconds, her best time this season but only good enough for sixth place.
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Knowing that she would not qualify for the next phase of competition, the first thing Pha Aphay did was check on Moris.
While Moris lay on the purple track, in severe pain holding her right leg, Pha Apahy turned and ran toward the start line and waved at medics to come help.
Silina Pha Aphay comes to the aid of Lucia Moris. Getty
"We are athletes," Pha Aphay told The Washington Post.
"We are 100 meters [athletes] – the same. All 100-meter athletes have to know how being hurt feels.
"And this is a big competition. It's a big dream to come here. But you get hurt here. So everybody knows the feeling."
Pha Aphay added: "I can only share her pain".
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Pha Aphay stayed with Moris and placed her hand on her shoulder as medics strapped her to a yellow stretcher and carried her away.
Like many of the sprinters who ran in the preliminary rounds, Pha Aphay is not at the Olympics to take home a medal.
They are there to represent themselves and their country, and to set an example to those back home that it can be done.
Congo's Natacha Ngoye won the race with a time of 11.34 seconds.
In round one of the 100m dash, Australia's Bree Masters advanced to the semi-finals by finishing third in her heat with a time of 11.26.
Australian teammate Ella Connolly finished sixth in her heat clocking 11.29, meaning she did not earn a spot in the semi finals.
