Sometimes, glimpses of humanity appear in the most unexpected places and moments. The 2025 Berlin Marathon served up one such heartwarming scene when American track and field athlete Jay Glidewell of St. Louis, Mo., faced every athlete’s nightmare just 10K into the race. On the verge of giving up, hope arrived in the form of a spectator who came to his rescue. Let’s take a closer look at this remarkable incident, which unfolded just days after the World Athletics Championships.

Just 10 kilometers into the 2025 Berlin Marathon on September 21, the sole of Jay Glidewell’s right Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit tore off completely. With 32 kilometers still ahead, he was forced to continue barefoot, each step more painful than the last. Then, as if the marathon itself had conjured a miracle, help arrived from the crowd.

A German spectator, Sven Hock, noticed the struggling American runner and, in a spontaneous act of kindness, took off his own shoes and offered them to the athlete. Hock generously offered both of his shoes to the athlete, but Glidewell insisted he only needed the right one. By sheer luck, they turned out to be a perfect fit. At first, Glidewell was shocked, but soon he slipped that shoe on and carried on in his journey. Little did he know, luck was not on his side today. At the brutal 38-kilometre mark, his left shoe disintegrated.

This unfortunate incident forced the track and field athlete to battle through the final four kilometers wearing nothing but a sock on one foot, but despite that, he crossed the finish line with a remarkable 3:10:33. Taking to his Instagram handle, the athlete shared his broken shoes on his timeline and captioned it as, “@sven_hock, a random spectator, now friend saved me from a trip to the podiatrist! He graciously lended me his right shoe, which I truly could not be any more grateful for. Thank you, I owe you!”

Hock, a seasoned three-time marathoner, knew exactly what it takes to endure such a distance. His partner Stefanie later captured the moment online, writing: “It was the right timing, right place, and right shoe. It was just pure coincidence—it was the perfect size.” In that moment, both of them showed true humanity, and this random act of kindness sparked an outpouring of fan reactions. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Track and field fans to Berlin Marathon’s random act of kindness

One curious fan was left awestruck by the incident but wondered if changing shoes mid-race could lead to disqualification: “Nice gesture, but isn’t this a DQ?” Well, according to the rulebook, swapping shoes during a marathon doesn’t amount to disqualification, unless the replacement footwear provides an unfair advantage over other runners.

Meanwhile, another user praised Hock’s generosity, calling it a true act of humanity: “Good humans do exist. Do we need more proof?” Interestingly, something similar unfolded at this year’s London Marathon in April. Former Chelsea FC captain John Terry battled severe pain and visible nipple chafing; there were even blood stains on his shirt. When fellow runner Karl Fitzpatrick, dressed as a giant shoe, stopped to offer encouragement, sweets, gels, and even a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Back in Berlin, reactions continued to pour in. One fan admitted he was more shocked than amused, but still gave credit where it was due: “I saw this! I was wondering what the h-ll was going on! Great job.” Another highlighted the wear and tear Glidewell’s trusty Vaporflys had endured. First raced in 2019, those shoes had carried him through multiple marathons before Berlin became their final run.

But above all, the spirit of sportsmanship resonated with the fans: “That’s pure kindness and sportsmanship you don’t forget,” wrote one, while another summed it up simply: “That’s so great! True sporting spirit!”

Well, the 30-year-old conquered his third Abbott World Marathon Major, but now he is eyeing his next challenge, the Tokyo World Marathon in March 2026.