Truth behind Hansle Parchment’s viral selfie is the best story of the Olympics

Jamaican sprinter Hansle Parchment has shared the sweetest story of the Tokyo Olympics with the woman that saved his Games.

The world has fallen in love with Jamaican hurdler Hansle Parchment and his story that has truly won the Olympics.

Parchment won gold in the men’s 110m hurdles in Tokyo ahead of American Grant Holloway and fellow Jamaican Ronald Levy. It was one of the biggest upsets on the Olympic track after Parchment beat Holloway, the world champion who owns the second fastest time in history.

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But it could have been so very different as the sprinter almost missed his semi-final after getting on the wrong bus.

In a video that has been seen more than 1.1 million times from his Twitter account and almost 750,000 times on Instagram, Parchment explained how he would have missed the Olympic semi-final for the event he went on to win if it hadn’t been for a volunteer who saved the day.

Watch the full video here.

This was how close the final was.

“I accidentally went on the wrong bus to the wrong venue, I had music in my ears and I wasn’t hearing anything the people loading the bus were saying,” Parchment said.

“I wasn’t even thinking about it — I was on my phone listening to music. By the time I looked up, I realised this bus was going the wrong way.”

The Jamaican eventually wound up at the rowing centre and was told he would have to go back to the Olympic Village and then take another bus to the athletics stadium. But he didn’t have time.

“If I had done that, I wouldn’t get there in time to even warm up,” Parchment said. “I had to find another way. I was trying to get one of the branded cars for the Games to take me, but these people are very strict and adhering to the rules, and I would have to have to book the car from beforehand to get it to leave.

“I saw this volunteer and I had to beg, because of course she is not allowed to do much, and she actually gave me some money to take one of the taxis. And that’s how I was able to get to the warm-up track at the stadium with enough time to warm up to compete and that’s just awesome.”

This wouldn’t have been possible without the kindness of a stranger.

After winning gold, Parchment tracked down the volunteer, whose name is Trijana Stojkovic, and documented their reunion in his now-viral video.

“Remember me? I want to repay you and show you something,” he said as he pulled the gold medal from his bag. “You were instrumental in me getting to the finals that day.”

“Really? Really? You won this?” she said.

Parchment replied: “That’s just because you helped me get to the stadium.”

The 110m hurdles king also presented Stojkovic with a Jamaican team T-shirt and paid her back for her kindness.

The pair then took a selfie together — the best selfie of the entire Games, we have to say — and she also posted a picture of herself in the T-shirt on her Instagram.

Hansle Parchment with the woman who saved his Olympics.

Stojkovic wrote: “This is a gift from dear Hansle. Perfect fit! Thank you so much dear Hansle!”

But this wasn’t all — the Minister for Tourism of Jamaica even invited Stojkovic to the island as a way to say thankyou. Jamaican officials said Stojkovic was a good Samaritan and had extended an “official invitation” to her.