Claire Gruenke, Twin Track Athlete, Carries Sister Over Finish Line: Watch 13-Year-Old's Compassionate Act Here (VIDEO)
Claire Gruenke, a 13-year-old track athlete from West-Clin Middle School in Trenton, Ill. inspired the crowd at her track meet this weekend. She and her twin sister Chloe were running the 800-meter at the Southern Illinois State track meet, but when Chloe fell to the ground injured, Claire stopped and carried her the rest of the way.
Claire Gruenke and her twin sister Chloe were each running their own race when Chloe felt something wrong.
"I was running my 800 and I was trying to stay up with the pack," Chloe told KDSK news. "And then I opened up my stride too much and I felt something in my quad move and pull."
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Claire ran up to her twin sister and after finding out that something was really wrong, she did the only thing she could do— Claire put Chloe on her back and started running, determined to finish the remaining 400 meters.
"I put her on my back, and then I started to jog. I got really tired, so I walked the rest and the crowd was just blaring in my ears," Claire said.
"Everyone in the crowd was standing up giving a standing ovation," the girls' father Doug Gruenke told KTVI news. "I just wanted both of them to make it through," their mother Georgia added.
Finally near the finish line, Chloe got off her sister's back, wanting her to cross first. But Claire wouldn't finish without her, and pulled her sister alongside her to cross the finish line together.
Their coaches, Ted Crail and Coree Woltering, said they are very proud of the twins and have never seen anything like it.
"I've been coaching for 20 years. I've probably been to over 200 track meets. And it's the first time I ever had tears in my eyes," Crail admitted.
"It's about showing compassion, love and sportsmanship, even if you lose and help somebody it's still worth it. The energy from the crowd made me stronger. They were saying I can't believe you just did that," Claire said.
Chloe's leg is better now, and the teen twins are looking forward to their next track meet. To see their triumphant finish, click below.
