Honor and Integrity | The Story of Long-Distance Runners Ivan Fernandez and Abel Mutai

Kenyan long-distance runner Abel Kiprop Mutai was a few meters away from the finish line, but got confused by the signals and stopped, thinking he had finished the race.

The Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and, realizing what was happening in front of him, began shouting for the Kenyan to keep running.

Motai did not know Spanish and did not understand.

What happened next astounded the world! Fernandez started to push Mutai all the way to the finish line.


One reporter asked Ivan, 

"Why did you do this?" 

Ivan replied, "My dream is that one day we can have the kind of community life that pushes ourselves and others to win as well."

"But why did you let the Kenyan win?" the reporter insisted. 

Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he would win. It was his race."

The reporter insisted and asked again: 

"But you could have won!"

Ivan looked at him and replied, "But what is the merit of my victory? What is the honor of this medal? What will my mother think?"

Values are passed on from generation to generation. What values do we teach our children and to what extent do they inspire others to earn them?

Most of us just take advantage of people's weaknesses rather than help to strengthen them. It's the way of the world, but sometimes one person would respond to a higher purpose and inspire others to elevate their capacity for goodness as human beings. 

Ivan Fernandez was globally praised for what he did. And earned him a victory far greater than any race could offer.

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