This has never happened before at the Olympics: high jumpers accept double gold

Men’s high jump is the ultimate uniqueness in the long Olympic history of athletics. Not because of a world record, but because Italian Gianmarco Tampere and Qatar’s Mudas Essa Parshim create an extraordinary sporting moment. Now they are Olympic champions together.

In fact, the rules in high jump are clear. A jump-off is required if there are two athletes who not only crossed the same height but also produced the same number of failed attempts. Since there are not two winners in athletics, the requirements of the World Association provide for one winner. This is what happened in the final of the Tokyo Olympics. Gianmarco Tamberi and Mudas Essa Parshim of Italy, both from Qatar, qualified for all heights within the 2.37-meter lock, then lost three times at 2.39 meters. With an agreement they confirmed a first scene in the long Olympic history of high jump.

A short video section shows them talking to the referee, who wants to explain how to make the jump-off. Parshim asks if the “two gold medals” are imaginary, the officer thinks for a moment, and then replies “it is possible”. Parshi and Tampere looked at each other, seemingly communicating without words. “If you decide to do it …”, the referee introduces, but the decision was taken for a long time. “That is history,” says Parshim, while Tamperi began the treaty. Now the two high jumpers, who have now become two Olympic champions, are hugging each other.

This is a great moment in the history of the Olympics, hosted by Irish journalist Kawan Reilly on Twitter as “the true essence of the sport”. As the rules dictate, there is criticism that both athletes must go beyond a single winner. But Tampere explained why he would not “share my medal with anyone else”, but he did with Parsim: “Muttas enjoyed it just as much as I did,” he said after the match.

“No one has decided,” Parshim insisted in interviews after the deal. Even more “sharing gold with Marco is a great feeling”. The rivals reaffirmed their friendship that had grown over time despite numerous rivalries with each other. Tamberi not only saved from his injury, but also celebrated with the cast that he was taken to the stage with him. Written as “Road to Tokyo”, “2020” has passed, including a “2021”. The path to a moment where the history of the game is written.

When Tampery falls to the ground in despair, he shouts for joy at the deserted Olympic Stadium. The Italian, who was often agitated by his unusual beard – half of his face did not shave the other – caused a stir due to injury as both indoor world champion and outdoor European champion, after which he did not rise as high as he did at the Olympics this Sunday final. Parshim won bronze in London in 2012, then silver in Rio in 2016, and are now both Olympic champions. “It’s a dream come true,” he later explains, and Tampery talks about a dream. The two can now be accomplished together, in a significant and extraordinary way.