Gianmarco Tamberi might’ve been taken to hospital earlier today, but the Italian still turned out for the men’s high jump final at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Tamberi had posted on Instagram a snap of him inside an ambulance, with reports he’d been suffering from abdominal pain.
In a statement shared to his social media, Tamberi said: “It’s been 10 hours and the kidney colic is still not over. The pain I’ve been feeling this morning, no matter how strong, is nothing compared to what I’m feeling inside.
“Even what was my last certainty is about to fade away….. Just been rushed to the ER after vomiting blood twice.
“Now I’m going to have more tests to see what’s going on, I’ll update you because the many messages I’m getting and the love you’re showing me, the less I deserve a response. Everything I’ve dreamed for this day except living such a nightmare…”
Despite the pain, the high jumper who took gold in Tokyo turned out for the final at the Stade de France in Paris.
The 32-year-old had snatched the headlines three years earlier when he and Qatari high-jumper Mutaz Barshim went viral for sharing the gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
But it wasn’t the medal-laden evening Tamberi had hoped for this time around, with the athlete crashing out of the high jump competition early on.
Tamberi had cleared the initial 2.22 meter barrier but was forced to bow out at 2.27 metres, having posted three failed attempts.
He was unable to keep his emotions in check following his departure from the competition, with a frustrated Tamberi having to be consoled by his coaching team.
Burying his head into the chest of the Italian delegates, a teary Tamberi struggled to cope with the situation, but the Stade de France crowd were quick to give him the response he deserved.
It came amid the final session of athletic action at the Games, with Team GB once again on the hunt for medals.
Georgia Bell picked up a stellar bronze medal in the women’s 1500-metre race, having fought off fellow Brit and Tokyo medalist Laura Muir.
Elsewhere, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was able to put the disappointment of the men’s 1500m behind him, with the Norweigan cruising to victory in the 5,000m race.
