'Can we have two golds?': High jumpers from Qatar, Italy decide to share gold medal in Olympics

So wholesome.

Lean Jinghui | August 02, 2021, 01:55 PM

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High jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi made history during the Athletics event on August 1, after they agreed to share the Olympic gold.

According to BBC, it was the first joint Olympic podium in Athletics, since 1912.

"Can we have two golds"

BBC reported that Qatar's Barshim, 30, and Italy's Tamberi, 29, had both recorded jumps of 2.37 metres with no failed attempts after a gruelling two-hour competition.

Both had three failed attempts at clearing the Olympic record of 2.39 metres.

According to Reuters, an Olympic official had first offered them a jump-off to decide the winner.

But Barshim had interrupted him to ask: "Can we have two golds?"

As the official replied that it's possible if both agree on it, Barshim and Tamberi clasped hands and embraced with joy.

Barshim later told Reuters:

"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.

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."

A win-win situation

For Tamberi, it's a dream come true after missing out on the Rio 2016 games due to a broken ankle.

Speaking to Reuters, he said, "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."

"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."

For Barshim, who also suffered a serious ankle injury in 2018, he adds the Olympic gold to his two successive world titles in 2017 and 2019, as well as a bronze and silver from the London 2012 and Rio 2016 games.

Tamberi collapsed onto the ground and rolled around in ecstasy post-win, cradling the plaster cast from his ankle injury with the words "Road to Tokyo 2020".

Via Getty Images

Via Getty Images

Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus, who also cleared 2.37 metres, took the bronze for the event.

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Top image via Getty Images