Canadian gymnast Ellie Black wins prestigious Olympic award for viral act of kindness in Paris

Canadian gymnast Ellie Black may have left Paris without an Olympic medal, but she didn't leave the games empty handed after all.

On Wednesday, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) — along with the International Fair Play Committee — announced that Black has been chosen as the recipient of the Paris 2024 Fair Play Award, which recognizes Olympic athletes who "exemplify sportsmanship, the spirit of fair play and respect for others."

The four-time Olympian, who found out she was the winner of the prestigious award while training at the Alta Gymnastics club in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, couldn't contain her excitement when speaking to the CBC upon hearing the news.

"I think it's just truly incredible and I'm incredibly honoured," Black said. "I think it really shows what the true meaning of sport is in the Olympics and bringing people together and the sportsmanship, really looking out for everyone as an individual, as a human being first."

Black added how cool it was to officially be named the award winner in her hometown surrounded by friends, family, coaches and teammates.

"So that was special just to find out and be here with the team and the athletes training and the coaches and just to be able to soak up that moment here at home in Halifax was truly incredible," she said.

Fans and fellow athletes submitted their nominations for the award via social media, while a panel representing both the International Fair Play Committee and the IOC narrowed those names down to a small group of finalists. The winner was decided by a public vote, which garnered tens of thousands of responses, according to the CBC.

“It was a real joy to have a list of over 20 good candidates living the values of fair play during the Olympics, and in Ellie we have a well-deserving winner,” said HSH The Princess Nora of Lichtenstein, a member of the selection panel.

"We are thrilled to see Ellie Black receive this well-deserved recognition," said Jeno Kamuti, president of the International Fair Play Committee, on Wednesday. "Her example serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respect in competition."

The official Olympics website noted that "Black’s sportsmanship was on full display" as the 28-year-old lead the Canadian women's gymnastics squad to a fifth-place finish in the team event before she finished sixth in the individual all-around final.

But it was one particular interaction which really stood out that resulted in the four-time Olympian claiming the prestigious award.

After competing in one of the qualifying rounds for the artistic gymnastics final in Paris — one in which Canada competed alongside home-team France — Black, along with teammate Shallon Olsen, were seen encouraging and consoling French gymnast Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos after the latter's qualifying event did not go so well.

De Jesus dos Santos, who suffered falls in each of her three opening routines in that qualifying event and did not advance to any medal round, was devastated following her rough outing, which prompted the Canadian gymnasts, especially Black, to make the effort to console their french competitor.

"Today was not my day," de Jesus dos Santos said on August 3, via International Gymnast Media. "I feel really sad. I feel like everything I did the last two, three years, did not work out today. I’m very sad. I feel like I’ve worked for nothing the past years. I’m sad."

"I did not have any confidence today," she added. "I really tried to focus. I don’t know why, but today was not my day… I tried to do my job, I tried to do gymnastics, but I wasn’t here."

When reflecting on the moment, Black told the CBC that she approached de Jesus dos Santos to try and cheer her up after a tough day on the mat.

Black added that she's competed against the French gymnast over the years and that Ellie considers her a friend — something not uncommon among competitors in such a ruthless, intense and often lonely sport.

"I just wanted to go over and comfort her and just remind her that it's not her gymnastics, it's who she is as a person … having an off-day or results, they don't define who you are. They don't define what you've done, what you've brought to sport, what you've brought to all these people," said Black. "All the spectators were there to cheer her on, to cheer France on no matter what. Even after she fell, they were chanting her name."

Black, who called de Jesus dos Santos "an incredible person and athlete," also detailed the common bond gymnasts have, no matter what country they compete for.

"It can be really tough," said Black. "You experience the highest of highs and the lowest lows. And so I was just happy that we could give her some support just so she didn't feel like she was alone."

Canadians, of course, immediately took to social media to gush over the amazing person and athlete that Black has blossomed into before the country's eyes over the past decade-plus.

Aside from Black, World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland, Hungarian fencer Csanad Gemsi, Afghani cyclists Fariba Hashimi, Hanna Tserakh of Belarus and German chef de mission Olaf Tabor rounded out the group of finalists for the Paris 2024 Fair Play Award.

Black said she's been training hard after a brief vacation with friends in Italy following the Paris Games as she prepares take part in the "Gold Over America Tour" next month across the United States.