By KENDALL MALINCHOCK   USA TODAY

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As the world counts down to Milan-Cortina 2026, Kind Alert—our daily series celebrating moments of kindness and humanity at the Games—is revisiting unforgettable Olympic moments that prove sports matter beyond medals and records.

These are the stories in which compassion, respect, and humanity rose to the podium alongside athletic excellence. In the lead-up to Milan-Cortina, we’ll spotlight unforgettable acts of Olympic sportsmanship, proving that sometimes the most powerful victories are the ones that are shared.

One of those moments came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games—not on the track, but on a busy street.

How one volunteer became part of Olympic history

Jamaican hurdler Hansle Parchment was preparing for one of the biggest races of his life—the men’s 110-meter hurdles semifinal—when one simple mistake threatened his Olympic dream.

Hours before the race, Parchment accidentally boarded the wrong bus and found himself at an aquatics venue instead of the Olympic Stadium. With time slipping away and buses full, he faced the real possibility of missing his event.

Desperately searching for a way to reach the correct venue, Parchment encountered an Olympic volunteer, Trijana Stojkovic. She reached into her own pocket and gave him money for a taxi, allowing him to arrive at the stadium with enough time to warm up and compete. Her small act of kindness not only changed his path, but helped shape Olympic history.

Parchment went on to win a gold medal in the final. But the story didn’t end there. Two days after standing on the podium, he set out to find Trijana again to personally thank her.

The two eventually reunited, and Parchment gave her an official Team Jamaica shirt and repaid her for the taxi fare. The moment resonated far beyond Tokyo. Jamaica’s minister of tourism later extended an invitation for Trijana to visit the country to honor her kindness.

As Kind Alert continues the countdown to Milan-Cortina 2026, we’ll keep the focus on Olympic moments like this one—reminding us that even on the world’s biggest stage, kindness, empathy, and sportsmanship are the real gold.

👉 Follow Humankind for more stories of humanity from Milan-Cortina 2026—because the greatest wins aren’t always measured in medals.

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