Belgium shot put and hammer throw champion Jolien Boumkwo displayed great team spirit at the European Championships in Poland when she stepped up outside her event and ran a 100 metres hurdles race to save her team from getting disqualified.

Boumkwo appeared all smiles when she carefully attempted each hurdle on Saturday in a video that went viral, after she stepped in when Belgium's two hurdlers had to pull out due to injury.

Had no Belgian athlete competed in the event, the team would have been disqualified.

The 29-year-old finished the race without knocking any of the hurdles down in 32.81 seconds, 19 seconds after Spanish sprinter Teresa Errandonea who won with 13.22.

Boumkwo was applauded by the audience and congratulated by her rivals as she earned two points for the team.

The points could be crucial as the bottom three countries will be relegated from Division 1.

“I couldn’t let it happen to lose by one point,” Boumkwo said according to Fox Sports. “That’s why I considered taking park in the 100m hurdles. There was no risk for me if I took it calmly.

The Belgium team was able to stay in the competition thanks to Boumkwo’s heroics.My team is the most important thing to me,” she said.

Italy would go on to win the European team national championships, but Belgium didn’t enjoy the same type of success.

They will be relegated to Division Two along with Norway and Turkey.

Although, Boumkwo stepping in and at least placing in the 100-meter hurdles helped Belgium avoid being disqualified altogether.

She was lauded with praise in the track and field community and on social media for her unselfish act.