Tokyo Olympics hero Cedric Dubler honoured for selfless act with new AOC award

Recognised as one of the more endearing images from the Tokyo Olympics, an Australian athlete has now been honoured for his selfless act which made headlines around the world.

Ashley Moloney (ground) and Cedric Dubler share a special moment at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

It has become known as the Cedric Dubler moment and one of the endearing images from the Tokyo Olympics.

Dubler, sacrificing his own ambitions to help teammate Ash Moloney in the closing stages of the 1500m to get him to a historic decathlon bronze medal, made headlines around the world.

And now it is being recognised by the Australian Olympic Committee, which has named Dubler as the winner of the inaugural Cecil Healy Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship.

The award was created in 2018 to acknowledge 100 years since the death of Healy, the only Australian Olympic gold medallist to be killed in action during World War I.

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Cedric Dubler has won a sportsmanship award for putting his own performance aside to coax teammate Ash Moloney to a decathlon bronze in Tokyo. Picture: Getty Images

In 1912 in Stockholm, Healy denied himself a certain gold medal in the pool by insisting race favourite, legendary Hawaiian Duke Kahanomoku, be allowed to compete in the 100m freestyle final despite the American champion missing his semi-final due to an apparent mix-up.

Healy’s stance led to officials holding a special semi-final, which included the American, who went on to win the final with Healy picking up the silver.

Dubler offers words of encouragement to Moloney as he sacrifices his own standing in the men’s 1500m decathlon event. Picture: Alex Coppel

Dubler congratulates Moloney after he realises he’s won bronze. Picture: Alex Coppel

AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said Healy would have approved of Dubler‘s incredible moment.

“In the closing stages, Cedric had no other thought, other than the possibility for his teammate winning an Olympic medal,” Carroll said.

“He could have easily chosen to improve his own standing in the event, but he made another choice and it was a noble one.

“Ash Moloney produced an amazing performance in Tokyo to win bronze and he is a young man with an enormous future in Olympic sport … Cedric is honoured for his selfless actions to assist his younger teammate.”

Moloney (ground) and Dubler share a special moment at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

Dubler, 27, who is back in training aiming towards this year‘s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, said he was shocked to receive the award.

“I am absolutely honoured and really quite amazed that something that happened in the moment can result in this type of recognition,“ he said.

“We don’t compete at the Olympic Games thinking about these moments. Every athlete just wants to do their best and performance is the focus.

“I am still stunned that my spontaneous decision to urge him on struck such a chord around the world. I definitely can‘t compare my actions with those of Cecil Healy, but I am immensely proud to be the first Australian to win this award, named in his honour.”

Dubler will be formally honoured with the presentation of a special medal at the AOC Annual General Meeting on April 30.