Athletes helping athletes

We often hear about athletes helping their own team members in need. However, helping out someone from a rival team is almost unheard of. But that's exactly the kind of selfless act cross-country runner Josh Ripley is being applauded for.

On September 16 at a large cross-country race in America, a junior at school was just starting to hit his pace in the first mile, when he heard somebody screaming as if in pain. While other runners kept on going, Josh decided to stop and investigate what was happening. To his horror, he found a fellow competitor, holding a profusely bleeding ankle. Concerned that the freshman from a different school may have injured his achilles heel, Josh did something most athletes would never even consider; he lifted the freshman and carried him for about half a mile to where his coach and parents were.

Turns out that Josh's selfless action may have been a fantastic thing, for even though the competitor had been spiked by another runner's shoe, he had not hurt his tendons. BUT he had been cut so badly that he needed 20 stitches! Then Josh did something very sporting again, after making sure his competitor was being taken care of, Josh continued on with his race and actually finished it. He did not win by coming first, but in everyone's opinion, he was the true winner of the event.

Josh is an athlete that demonstrates exactly what true sportsmanship is all about