Kindness, empathy highlight humanity of Tokyo Olympics
Associated Press
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Petr David Josek
Femke Bol, left, of the Netherlands, embraces Lea Sprunger, of Switzerland, after their semifinal of the women's 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
John Locher
Belgium's Arthur Van Doren, comforts Spain's Josep Romeu Argemi after Belgium won their men's field hockey match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Vincent Thian
Eduard Trippel of Germany, right comforts Michael Zgank of Turkey after winning their men -90kg semifinal round against unseen, in the judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
John Locher
Britain's Leah Julia Wilkinson, left, comforts India's Deep Grace Ekka after Britain won their women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Britain won 4-3. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Andre Penner
Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan, right, embraces Brazil's Marta at the end of a women's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Rifu, Japan. Canada won 4-3 in a penalty shootout. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Petr David Josek
Robin Hendrix, of Belgium, left, embraces Hugo Hay, of France, after their men's 5,000-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Petr David Josek
Laura Muir, of Britain, is embraced by a competitor after her second place finish in the final of the women's 1,500-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Kiichiro Sato
United States' Kristie Mewis, left, confronts Australia's Sam Kerr at the end of the women's bronze medal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. United States won 4-3. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Eric Gay
Belgium's Julie Vanloo (35), left, offers help to Puerto Rico's Jazmon Gwathmey (24) during women's basketball preliminary round game between Belgium and Puerto Rico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Matt Slocum
Israel's Alon Leichman, left, and the Dominican Republic's Julio Rodriguez embrace after a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. The Dominican Republic won 7-6. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Martin Meissner
Mohamed Katir, of Spain and Paul Chelimo, of United States embrace as they finish in a men's 5,000-meter heat at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Charlie Riedel
Luca Kozak, of Hungary, left, helps Yanique Thompson, of Jamaica, center, to her feet after both failed to finish a women's 100-meter hurdles semifinal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Fernando Vergara
Canada's Vanessa Gilles, left, comforts United States' Carli Lloyd after a women's semifinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. Canada won 1-0. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Francisco Seco
Stephenie Mcpherson, of Jamaica reacts as she is helped from the track after the final of women's 400-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
David Goldman
Paula Ruiz Bravo, of Spain, left, helps up Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, of the Russian Olympic Committee, after they finished in the women's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Themba Hadebe
Russian Olympic Committee's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, right, hugs New Zealand's David Nyika after winning their men's heavyweight 91kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
David Goldman
Alex Yee of Great Britain (55) reaches to help up Kristian Blummenfelt of Team Norway (43) after Blummenfelt won the gold medal and Yee won silver during the men's individual triathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
John Minchillo
Britain's goalkeeper Claire Hinch (1) comforts India's Neha Neha, right, after winning their women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Britain won 4-3. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Gregorio Borgia
Mexico's Jesus Angulo and teammate Luis Romo confort Japan's Takefusa Kubo after their men's bronze medal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Silvia Izquierdo
Egypt's Mahmoud El Wench, left, helps Brazil's Richarlison get up during a men's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Frank Gunn
Canada's Christine Sinclair, left, consoles United States' midfielder Lindsey Horan (9) after their semifinal soccer match at the Tokyo Olympics in Kashima, Japan, Monday, Aug. 2, 2020. Canada won 1-0. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Frank Franklin II
Russian Olympic Committee's Imam Khataev comforts Kazakhstan's Bekzad Nurdauletov after the former won the men's light heavyweight 81-kg preliminaries boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Pool)
David Goldman
Claire Michel, of Belgium, is assisted by Lotte Miller of Norway after the finish of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
TOKYO (AP) — In the close-up photos of this pandemic-era Olympic Games, you can imagine the world’s most competitive athletes saying to their rivals: “Are you OK?”
The striking images that show these world class athletes displaying acts of empathy and kindness to their competitors may be unexpected. But they’re very much appreciated by a global audience that’s been banned from the venues as a coronavirus precaution.
Viral photos from an variety of sports depict a clearly pained Olympian juxtaposed by another’s outreach of generosity.
The emotions are vivid in the frame of Mexico’s Jesus Angulo and teammate Luis Romo comforting Japan’s Takefusa Kubo while another Japanese teammate appears devastated after their men’s bronze medal soccer match.
The passionate pep-talk heard around the world came from a shot of Norwegian Lotte Miller trying to bring ease to an inconsolable Claire Michel of Belgium, who was slumped on the ground sobbing after coming in last in the punishing women’s triathlon.
Look beyond the tangle of legs and arms in the finals at the women’s 400-meters race for an image of Stephenie Mcpherson, of Jamaica, reacting in disbelief as she is helped from the track.
In the midst of an extraordinarily difficult Olympics where athletes are separated from friends, family and the crowds that cheer them on, it’s humanity at its best.
