In a moment that captured what sportsmanship is really all about, a group of kids at a running carnival in Michigan, USA, banded together to support their friend, Nathan VanDyken, who has cerebral palsy this week.
According to People, in addition to cerebral palsy, VanDyken has a small windpipe and trouble hearing. He walks – and runs – with the help of a walker, and is a member of the Forest Hills Northern middle school track team.
The group of boys in VanDyken’s team were meant to race against each other in the 70 metre event, instead they all ran alongside VanDyken as he took out his first victory.
One of the boys, Noah Jacobs, told local news station Michigan’s Fox17,
“We all just kind of stuck with that and just clapped for him, cheered him on.”
The club, called the Huskies, stick together and look out for each other.
“We’re all the same and part of a family. But some kids, they weren’t built the same, and everyone wants a chance for victory. So, we wanted to give that to Nathan,” Jacobs told the News Station.
The crowd were all up on their feet cheering as VanDyken took out the gold medal.