PARIS — The track and field bromance that took center stage at the Tokyo Olympics is once again in the spotlight three years later.
Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim shared the gold medal in the high jump at the last Summer Games. The pair, whom are adversaries on paper but also friends thanks to nearly 15 years of competing against one another in the same meets, decided to share the gold rather than do a jump-off to decide a winner – taking advantage of a loophole in the World Athletics rulebook.
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The reaction was priceless, with Tamberi leaping onto Barshim and wrapping himself around the Qatari. Video of the scene quickly went viral and the sharing of gold was seen as a celebration of sportsmanship.
On Wednesday, during high jump qualifying at the Paris Olympics, the duo was back at it in the heartwarming sense. Barshim began his run for liftoff over the bar but pulled up lame and immediately grabbed for his left calf. Tamberi was the first person to Barshim’s side on the ground and helped him stretch the calf.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
The extent of Barshim’s injury is unknown, but he did qualify for the final by clearing 2.27 meters. The Eurosport broadcast speculated that the discomfort was due to cramping.
Tamberi has not been without his recent ailments, too. He posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed Sunday and said he was dealing with kidney issues. That delayed his arrival in Paris but he also qualified for the final.
‘Probably a kidney stone,’ wrote Tamberi, who said he experienced a ‘stabbing’ pain in his side.
He said after qualifying Wednesday that he felt ‘much better’ and that his body temperature had returned to normal. He said there is ‘99.9 percent’ chance the Paris Games are his final Olympics.
The 12-person high jump final will take place Saturday. And Tamberi hopes Barshim will be OK by then.
‘I need him on the field,’ Tamberi said. ‘I have to be fit myself but I want him to be there in the competition.’
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.