Daily US Times: A Spanish runner has sacrificed a top tier win in the 2020 Santander Triathlon to give it to a competitor who took a wrong turn on the course. The athlete is being applauded on social media for his heroic decision.

British runner James Teagle was on his way to win third place in the competition in Spain last weekend when he made a mistake metres from the finish.

Diego Méntrida overtook him but noticed the error and then he stopped to allow Teagle to cross first.

“He deserved it,” the Spanish athlete said later.

The race took place on 13 September but footage of the competition has spread on social media in the past day, as many congratulate 21-year-old Méntrida for his show of sportsmanship.

Méntrida was awarded honorary third place on Monday by the organisers and the same €300 (£274) prize money as Teagle, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

Méntrida wrote on Instagram on Saturday where he thanked followers for applauding him: “This is something my parents and my club taught me since I was a child. In my view it should be a normal thing to do.”

The British athlete Teagle’s wrong turn happened less than 100m from the end of the race when he mistakenly ran towards spectators in a fenced area.

Méntrida told Eurosport after the race: “He didn’t notice the signs or they were misaligned.”

He had been behind Teagle and overtook him to continue on the final stretch – but then slowed his pace to allow his competitor to catch up.

Teagle shook hands with Méntrida in gratitude and stepped over the finishing line.

Méntrida told Eurosport that when he saw that Teagle had missed the route, he just stopped.

”James deserved this medal,” he said adding that he would do the same a second time.

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