A young man ran off the track mid-race for the most heartwarming reason. His move was certainly unexpected, but why he did it will have you reaching for the tissues to wipe your eyes. Watch the short but precious clip to see why the young athlete temporarily exited the track during a race.

Many people enjoy watching sports. Every year, the Super Bowl is the most-watched thing on television. Sports fans love seeing athletes at the top of their game compete against one another. And, for the most part, it doesn’t matter what sport. If people compete against one another for some title or trophy, individuals will likely tune in to see who comes out on top.

Spectators love seeing athletes doing their best, doing all they can to win the game, match or heat. However, no fan wants to see athletes give up before the clock says zero. But a clip posted on YouTube shows a runner not giving up but taking a detour during a race, and he did so for the most precious, heartwarming reason imaginable.

The video starts with the beginning of a race at the Special Olympics. The athletes make their way along the track as a crowd of people stands just off the track, using their phones to capture every moment of the race. However, seconds into the race, something unexpected happens.

As the runners pass by, one young man is seen crossing the track, approaching the cameras. Several people yell and tell him to remain on the track, but he doesn’t listen. Instead, he runs over to his mother and kisses her. After showing his mother how much he loves and appreciates her, he returns to the track and continues with his race.

What an adorable scene! When it comes to sports, it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the competition, but this young man knew what mattered most to him: his mother.

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not see that in a running competition all take part, but only one gets the reward? So let your minds be fixed on the reward.”