Heartwarming proof that sportsmanship is not dead

Michael Katz, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

This story is basically a real life version of those Sportsmanship: Pass It On commercials. It's great.

Spanish runner Ivan Fernandez Anaya is still receiving attention for a race he lost on Dec. 2, 2012. Here's why, as told by Spanish newspaper El Pais:

He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai -- bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing straight, he saw the Kenyan runner -- the certain winner of the race -- mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line.

Fernandez Anaya quickly caught up with him, but instead of exploiting Mutai's mistake to speed past and claim an unlikely victory, he stayed behind and, using gestures, guided the Kenyan to the line and let him cross first.

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Tough decision, right? Actually, no.

"He was the rightful winner," Fernandez Anaya said. "He created a gap that I couldn't have closed if he hadn't made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn't going to pass him."

So, to recap this lesson in How to Become an Internet Folk Hero:

(1) Find yourself in an unusual situation.

(2) Respond with uncommon sportsmanship and honesty.

(3) Wait for the Internet to find out.

...

(4) Commission an awesome portrait? Perhaps.

(via Reddit)