One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it. —Knute Rockne
From the time our kids are able to participate in almost any activity where there are winners and losers, we try to stress the importance of good sportsmanship.
For Zachary Hougland, 17, a display of sportsmanship and compassion is the exact reason why his story is going viral.
At a recent district high school track meet in Iowa, Hougland crossed the finish line first, winning his school's first-ever district title. His excitement, however, was short-lived when he noticed a competitor from a rival school collapse on the course. That's when Hougland's true character shone through.
In an interview with WHO, Hougland said he saw the runner wasn't far from finishing and decided to lend him a hand. "It was about 15 meters from the finish line. I did it for seven meters, so he had about eight left. I knew I couldn't help him finish so I just gave him a push and told him you can do it," he said.
That runner, 17-year-old Garret Hinson, made it across the finish line, and his mother even went so far as to call Hougland "her hero."
But, unfortunately, this wasn't where their story ended. Because of a national rule mandating that no runner can help or receive help from another, both boys were disqualified, and Hougland was stripped of his title.
When WHO asked if he would change anything, Hougland said, "I wouldn't change a thing because I did what I thought was right." Thankfully, he'll get to race again, as his team narrowly qualified for state.
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