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Gold Medallist waits 28 minutes to cheer on last placed cross-country skiier

Dario Cologna waited to welcome home his Peruvian opponent, who was competing two weeks after breaking several ribs.

IN WHAT WILL go down as one of the more touching moments of the Sochi Olympics, Swiss cross-country skier Dario Cologna won a gold medal and then waited 28 minutes to congratulate last-place finisher Roberto Carcelen of Peru at the finish line.

The 43-year-old Carcelen is Peruโ€™s first Winter Olympian and has only been skiing since 2005. He was also competing with broken ribs as the result of a training accident just two weeks before the Olympics.

Cologna did not have an easy race either, having just finished a grueling 39-minute, 15 km course with a close finish at the end:

Dario Cologna

Credit: CBC

Like many of the cross-country competitors, he collapsed after crossing the finish line.

image

AP Photo/Matthias Schrader

You wouldn't have blamed him if he just wanted to celebrate and find a massage therapist.

However, some 28 minutes later, and 11 minutes after every other skier had finished, Carcelen struggled down the final stretch. He was greeted by a standing ovation from the fans and grabbed a Peruvian flag from the crowd.

Roberto CARCELEN

AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky

Carcelen (bib no. 92), who finished 87th, crossed the finish line and was first greeted by Dachhiri Sherpa of Nepal (bib no. 91), who finished 86th in the event. And then, to the likely surprise of everybody, Cologna appeared, still carrying his skis, to greet both competitors with a handshake. What a great moment and what the Olympics should be all about.

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Check out the video here:

YouTube credit: DVH PERU

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    Mute David Bridgeman
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    Feb 15th 2014, 1:10 PM

    Great sportsmanship.

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Feb 15th 2014, 2:47 PM

    Give them some money and drugsโ€ฆ. Kill that spirit! Nice to see real sportsmanshipโ€ฆ. Tbh, Olympics are totally ruined now anywayโ€ฆ. It simply used to be about competingโ€ฆ

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    Mute Paul Kenny
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    Feb 15th 2014, 2:09 PM

    Class.you either have it or you donโ€™t. Mark of a true champion.

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    Mute John Michael
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    Feb 15th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Once again the Olympics are setting the standards that everyone should live up to. Professionals take note.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
    Favourite Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Feb 15th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Itโ€™s a tradition in the cross country skiing that goes back to Calgary when Bjorn Dhalie waited for Kenyaโ€™s first winter Olympian Philip Boit to finish!!

    Really shows respect for how tough these events are and the respect athletes have for each other

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