The Gulf has won its second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, as Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim magnanimously decided to share his gold medal with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi in the men’s high jump today.
Barshim can add the gold medal to his back to back world titles, and is the winner of Qatar’s second-ever Olympic gold medal, after weightlifter Fares Elbakh won the first on Saturday in the men’s 96kg event.
Barshim and Tamberi were given the option of deciding a single winner in a jump-off or sharing the gold.
In a stirring moment, Barshim said he was ok with sharing, leading Tamberi to let out a huge scream and embrace his rival in joy.
Tamberi ran across the stadium in joy, with Barshim taking a slow walk towards his traveling party before breaking down in tears.
Watch the scene here:
Barshim won bronze in London 2012 and Rio 2016, and now finally won his first gold.
“It’s a mixture of joy and disappointment,” he told Esquire Middle East after failing to capture the gold in Rio. “Part of me is frustrated that I missed out on gold by just 2cm, but then the other part of me realises that I have to celebrate the best achievement in my career. I look at it as everything happens for a reason, and you get what you deserve. I am going to celebrate my silver, but I am going to use that to push me to getting the gold next time.|
Neither successfully landed the 2.39m, but both landed a perfect 2.37m. Tamberi did not take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics after suffering a leg injury.
Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus took bronze.
Esquire Middle East sat down with Barshim in 2019 and captured some incredible photos with the track and field star. See our photos with Barshim above.
Read our interview with him from 2016 here.
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