There’s nothing like witnessing a breathtaking feat of athleticism to rev you up for your next workout (a DailyBurn workout, of course!) — especially at the beginning of the week. That’s why we’re looking back at the World Track and Field Championships, which wrapped up yesterday in Beijing. The exciting races and relays offered up some seriously inspiring moments that went way beyond just the thrill of cheering on a winner. (Though that is, of course, awesome in itself.)
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So whether you’re training for your first 5K or are a total gym rat, you’ll relate to these hard-to-believe, but totally inspiring incidents. (Spoiler alert: One runner was forced to go shoeless!) The way these athletes reacted to the challenges at hand might just inspire you to recommit to dominating whatever workout you’ve got scheduled for this week. Check them out below.
3 Crazy Moments from the World Track Championships
1. Usain Bolt Rolls With the Punches
Did your heart stop for a second when watching the video above? Same. Mere moments after Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt won the gold medal in the 200-meter race, a photographer on an out-of-control Segway scooter literally plowed him down on the track. Though it could have been a career-threatening moment, Bolt almost popped back to his feet. Later, he laughed at a press conference, saying, “The rumor I’m trying to start right now is that [American rival] Justin Gatlin paid him off.” He followed up with a Facebook post that said it all: “Unshakeable, Unbreakable, Unstoppable.” Carry that mantra with you — we’ve already put it in our pockets.
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Hats off to @trackjenny, who finished that race without her left shoe. Looks like it flew off with about 300m to go. pic.twitter.com/CiLGkDh3Ij
— USATF (@usatf) August 25, 2015
2. Jenny Simpson Goes (Unexpectedly) Shoeless
American runner Jenny Simpson didn’t let the fact that she was only wearing only one shoe stop her from finishing her 1500-meter race at the World Championships. Her wayward cleat slipped off her left foot after another runner stepped on her shoe mid-course. Simpson, who came in first place in the event in 2011 and second in 2013, was a contender to medal in 2015 again. Despite her relatively disappointing finish in 11th place this time around, Simpson kept her cool and demonstrated what it truly means to tough it out. Next time you complain, think of Simpson and how she crushed her race in just one shoe.
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3. Emily Infield Claims the Bronze
Talk about an inspiring finish to kick-start your week! On Tuesday, August 25, American runner Emily Infield nabbed a bronze medal in the 10,000-meter race, overtaking fellow U.S. teammate Molly Huddle in the final seconds of the competition, after Huddle started celebrating early. Infield’s training partner, the elite marathoner Shalene Flanagan, told Runner’s World that Infield had been specifically practicing pushing herself at the end of her races. “I’m always telling Emily to run through the line and to pace herself so she has one extra gear in the last 100, so I’m taking partial credit,” Flanagan said. We’d say it paid off.
How’s all that for some #MondayMotivation?
Now we want to hear from you! Tell us how you get pumped up for the week and tweet us @dailyburn using #MondayMotivation.