Qatar and Italy share men’s high jump gold medal

In one of the iconic moments of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games so far, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the gold medal in the men’s high jump after they both jumped 2.37m.

Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau had also cleared 2.37 but took bronze on countback.

With the victory Tamberi became the second Italian to win gold in the high jump at the Olympic Games, after Sara Simeoni won the women’s competition in Moscow 1980.

Speaking about the decision to share the gold, Barshim said:

“I look at him, he looks at me, and we know it. We just look at each other and we know, that is it, it is done. There is no need.”

And it turns out the pair are also close friend. “He is one of my best friends, not only on the track, but outside the track. We work together. This is a dream come true. It is the true spirit, the sportsman spirit, and we are here delivering this message. We have been through a lot, the same injury, and we know how much it takes, physically and mentally, just to get back here. I appreciate what he has done, he appreciates what I have done. It is amazing,” Barshim added.

“After my injuries I just wanted to come back, but now I have this gold, it’s incredible. I dreamed of this so many times,” Tamberi said.

“I was told in 2016 just before Rio there was a risk I wouldn’t be able to compete any more. It’s been a long journey.”

Photo copyright: Getty Images