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Japan: 'This is true sportsmanship' - high jumpers from Qatar, Italy share Olympic gold02:44
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Italian and Qatari high jumpers spoke to the media on Monday after deciding to share a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic games, with Qatari athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim describing the action as 'true sportsmanship'.

Barshim and his Italian counterpart Gianmarco Tamberi made the decision after both failing to clear the last height in Sunday's Olympic men's high-jump final, at which point they were given the choice to have a jump-off for the gold or to share the medal.

"When the judge came to us and asked 'Do you know the rules about the jump-off?' we just looked at each other and didn't say anything, we just hugged," said Tamberi.

He went on to describe the ankle injuries that both athletes had faced, Tamberi in 2016 and Barshim in 2018, and stated that they 'were the only two athletes [at the men's high-jump final] that went through the worst injury a high jumper can go through'.

Speaking about the personal significance of the event, Tamberi said: "sharing with a friend is even more beautiful."

The two athletes enjoy a close relationship both on and off the track, with Tamberi having attended Barshim's wedding.

Japan: 'This is true sportsmanship' - high jumpers from Qatar, Italy share Olympic gold

Japan, Tokyo
August 2, 2021 at 15:17 GMT +00:00 · Published

Italian and Qatari high jumpers spoke to the media on Monday after deciding to share a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic games, with Qatari athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim describing the action as 'true sportsmanship'.

Barshim and his Italian counterpart Gianmarco Tamberi made the decision after both failing to clear the last height in Sunday's Olympic men's high-jump final, at which point they were given the choice to have a jump-off for the gold or to share the medal.

"When the judge came to us and asked 'Do you know the rules about the jump-off?' we just looked at each other and didn't say anything, we just hugged," said Tamberi.

He went on to describe the ankle injuries that both athletes had faced, Tamberi in 2016 and Barshim in 2018, and stated that they 'were the only two athletes [at the men's high-jump final] that went through the worst injury a high jumper can go through'.

Speaking about the personal significance of the event, Tamberi said: "sharing with a friend is even more beautiful."

The two athletes enjoy a close relationship both on and off the track, with Tamberi having attended Barshim's wedding.

Pool for subscribers only
Unable to download
Restrictions

No Social Media Usage; Only for TV News Programming; max 6 min Content may be used daily; in max 3 News Programmes per day; max 2 min Content per Programme; Max 30 sec of each Event per Programme; Programmes to be separated by min 3 hours; Programmes can be posted online; Max 48 hours usage time after Event is Over; No alteration other than length permitted; No Commercial Association permitted; Must credit the local Right Holders

Description

Italian and Qatari high jumpers spoke to the media on Monday after deciding to share a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic games, with Qatari athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim describing the action as 'true sportsmanship'.

Barshim and his Italian counterpart Gianmarco Tamberi made the decision after both failing to clear the last height in Sunday's Olympic men's high-jump final, at which point they were given the choice to have a jump-off for the gold or to share the medal.

"When the judge came to us and asked 'Do you know the rules about the jump-off?' we just looked at each other and didn't say anything, we just hugged," said Tamberi.

He went on to describe the ankle injuries that both athletes had faced, Tamberi in 2016 and Barshim in 2018, and stated that they 'were the only two athletes [at the men's high-jump final] that went through the worst injury a high jumper can go through'.

Speaking about the personal significance of the event, Tamberi said: "sharing with a friend is even more beautiful."

The two athletes enjoy a close relationship both on and off the track, with Tamberi having attended Barshim's wedding.

Top downloads in last 24 hours
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