Gianmarco Tamberi faced elimination from the high jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The gold medalist in Tokyo failed to clear the 2.27 mark.
Prior to that, on his third attempt, he successfully cleared the 2.22 mark.
Despite a new kidney colic attack earlier this morning and being transported to the hospital by ambulance in the afternoon, the Italian athlete took part in the event.
As he entered the track at the Stade de France, among the other high jump finalists, Tamberi – dressed in Italy’s blue suit with a hood on his head – went under the curve where many Italian fans were seated. He waved, bowed to the ovations, and then started running and bouncing to warm up.
From the early morning kidney colic to the departure by bus to the Stade de France, the T-day unfolds in Paris 20204. It’s a minute-by-minute live coverage of a champion’s pain as Tamberi dreams of a second gold in high jump and screams his nightmare to the world.
Live on social media. It all began at 5 am, when Gianmarco Tamberi suffered his second kidney colic attack after one that had led him to postpone his departure for Paris a week ago. The pains were excruciating; five hours later, at 10:20, perhaps in the first minute of a respite, Gimbo posted an old photo of himself, head down, causing dismay among the Italian delegation at the Games and those following from Italy.
“It’s all over,” he wrote, announcing the new relapse, with initial thoughts leaning towards withdrawal. However, Tamberi surprised everyone. “I’m speechless, truly sorry to disappoint. Will I step onto the track tonight? Yes, but I really don’t know how I’ll manage to jump in these conditions….”
To jump or not to jump? Perhaps just a walk to greet. All that’s left is to wait until 7 pm, the appointment at Stade de France for the high jump final. But another five hours pass, and the script takes a thrilling turn with Tamberi’s wife, Chiara Bontempi, by his side: “Many of you called to know, this is the situation. We’re at the hospital,” she wrote at 3:20 pm, with a photo of the athlete’s arm on an IV drip.
Meanwhile, the president of Fidal, Stefano Mei, reiterated, personally, that Tamberi wants to compete but is under medical observation, as taking risks is out of the question. Then, the Olympic champion’s desperate plea, ca va sans dire via Instagram, just 20 minutes after Chiara. “(Even my last certainty is about to vanish…. I’ve just been taken to the ER in an ambulance after vomiting blood twice.” The photo was taken in the ambulance by Gimbo himself, one hand on the phone for the shot and the other holding Chiara’s hand (the post, of course, came after). In short, is it over? Just over an hour later, while Fidal, in a classic statement, announced that medical tests showed no “absolute impediment” to his participation in the event, Tamberi took the definitive selfie: “I will be there.” It was 5:01 pm. Hood on, intense gaze, accreditation around his neck. And it’s not certain that this is the end.
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