TRENTON, Ill. — Twin sisters Chloe and Claire Gruenke are close. They make sacrifices for one another and cheer each other on in all areas of life. It’s normal.
But over the weekend their sacrificial love for one another was witnessed by onlookers at a track meet. So moved by one sister’s actions, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
According to FOX 2 Now, while running the 800, Chloe felt something “pop” in her thigh.
“And then around the second lap it hurt, and I couldn’t go anymore, and I fell to the ground,” she said.
Sister to the rescue.
Claire stopped running and put Chloe on her back, carrying her piggyback across the finish line — a distance of 370 meters.
“It’s about showing compassion, love and sportsmanship,” Claire said. “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.”
The twins’ parents Doug and Georgia Gruenke said they just wanted to girls to make it through.
“It was pretty neat everyone in the crowd was standing up giving a standing ovation.” Doug said.
As for the coaches, they admit they had tears in their eyes watching the girls cross the finish line.
“I have to admit, it was pretty emotional,” Coree Woltering, coach, said.
