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A surfer jumping in to translate for the rival who鈥檇 just beaten him. High-jumping friends agreeing to share a gold medal rather than move to a tiebreaker. Two runners falling in a tangle of legs, then helping each other to the finish line.

In an extraordinary Olympic Games where mental health has been front and center, acts of kindness are everywhere. The world鈥檚 most competitive athletes have been captured showing gentleness and warmth to one another聽鈥� celebrating, pep-talking, wiping away one another鈥檚 tears of disappointment.

Kanoa Igarashi of Japan was disappointed when he lost to Brazilian Italo Ferreira in their sport鈥檚 Olympic debut.

Not only did he blow his shot at gold on the beach he grew up surfing, but he was also being taunted online by racist Brazilian trolls.

The Japanese-American surfer could have stewed in silence, but he instead deployed his knowledge of Portuguese, helping to translate a press conference question for Mr. Ferreira on the world stage.

The crowd giggled hearing the cross-rival translation and an official thanked the silver medalist for the assist.

鈥淵es, thank you, Kanoa,鈥� said a beaming Mr. Ferreira, who is learning English.

Days later, at the Olympic Stadium, Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar found themselves in a situation they鈥檇 talked about but never experienced聽鈥� they were tied.

Both high jumpers were perfect until the bar was set to the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). Each missed three times.

They could have gone to a jump-off, but instead decided to share the gold.

鈥淚 know for a fact that for the performance I did, I deserve that gold. He did the same thing, so I know he deserved that gold,鈥� Mr. Barshim said. 鈥淭his is beyond sport. This is the message we deliver to the young generation.鈥�

After they decided, Mr. Tamberi slapped Mr. Barshim鈥檚 hand and jumped into his arms.

鈥淪haring with a friend is even more beautiful,鈥� Mr. Tamberi said. 鈥淚t was just magical.鈥�

Earlier, on the same track, runners Isaiah Jewett of the United States and Nijel Amos of Botswana got tangled and fell during the 800-meter semifinals. Rather than get angry, they helped each other to their feet, put their arms around each other, and finished together.

Many top athletes come to know each other personally from their time on the road, which can feel long, concentrated, and intense聽鈥� marked by career moments that may be the best or worst of their lives.

Those feelings have often been amplified at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, where there is an unmistakable yearning for normalcy and, perhaps, a newfound appreciation for seeing familiar faces.

Restrictions designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have meant Olympians can鈥檛 mingle the way they normally do.

After a hard-fought, three-set victory in the beach volleyball round-robin final on Saturday at Shiokaze Park, Brazilian Rebecca Cavalcanti playfully poured a bottle of water on American Kelly Claes鈥� back as she did postgame interviews.

The U.S. team had just defeated Brazil but the winners laughed it off, explaining that they鈥檙e friends.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited when quarantine鈥檚 done so we can sit at the same table and go to dinner with them. But it鈥檚 kind of hard in a bubble because we have to be away,鈥� said Sarah Sponcil, Ms. Claes鈥� teammate.

For fellow American Carissa Moore, the pandemic and its accompanying restrictions brought her closer with the other surfers.

The reigning world champion said she typically travels to surfing competitions with her husband and father. But all fans were banned this year, and Ms. Moore admitted she struggled without their reassuring presence in the initial days of the Games.

Ms. Moore had flown to Japan with the U.S. team 10 days before the first heat, and soon adjusted to living in a home with the other surfers, including Caroline Marks, whom Ms. Moore considered the woman to beat.

Ms. Moore said she didn鈥檛 know Ms. Marks well before the Tokyo Games but on the night she was crowned the winner and Ms. Marks came in fourth, her rival was the first to greet her.

鈥淗aving the USA Surf team with me, it鈥檚 been such a beautiful experience to bond with them,鈥� Ms. Moore said. 鈥淚 feel like I have a whole another family after the last two weeks.鈥�

After the punishing women鈥檚 triathlon last week in Tokyo, Norwegian Lotte Miller, who placed 24th, took a moment to give a pep talk to Belgium鈥檚 Claire Michel, who was inconsolable and slumped on the ground, sobbing.

Ms. Michel had come in last, 15 minutes behind winner Flora Duffy of Bermuda聽鈥� but at least she finished. Fifty-four athletes started the race but 20 were either lapped or dropped out.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e a [expletive] fighter,鈥� Ms. Miller told Ms. Michel. 鈥淭his is Olympic spirit, and you鈥檝e got it 100%.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP reporters Pat Graham, Jimmy Golen, and Jim Vertuno contributed.