Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi decide to share gold in men's high jump
Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi shared the gold medal in the men's high jump at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.
All three medalists cleared the 2.37 meter mark in the final. Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus had more failed attempts and therefore won bronze. He set a national record at that height.
Neither Barshim nor Tamberi had a failed attempt until 2.39 meters, which is the Olympic record. When they couldn't clear the mark, an official came over to talk about going forward with a jump-off to determine gold. One asked "do we have to?" and the broadcast showed the celebration with later clarification they would tie.
Tamberi leaped into the arms of a beaming Barshim, who seemed to make the call first to share the medal.
Barshim, 30, adds gold to his 2012 bronze, which was won behind gold medalist Russian Ivan Ukhov, who was later banned for doping. He earned silver in 2016 and won world titles in 2017 and 2019.
Tamberi was a favorite alongside Barshim heading into the 2016 Rio Games. He set the Italian record at 2.39 meters and trailed only Barshim (2.40m) for the best mark for the year. But he was unable to compete after suffering a serious left ankle injury that required surgery at the 2016 Diamond League in Monaco.
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