Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, the reigning Olympic co-champion, is facing a dramatic health crisis just hours before the Paris 2024 Olympic final. Tamberi was hospitalized due to severe kidney colic and reported vomiting blood twice, raising serious doubts about his participation in the event.Despite the pain and uncertainty, Tamberi has shown remarkable determination, announcing his intention to compete. He posted ‘I will be there!’ on social media, accompanied by an angry emoji, indicating his resolve to overcome his condition. The Italian Athletics Federation (Fidal) has confirmed that there are no absolute impediments to his participation, though his exact condition remains uncertain.Tamberi’s wife, Chiara Bontempi, has been by his side throughout this ordeal, posting updates on social media. The situation has been evolving rapidly, with Tamberi experiencing multiple health setbacks in the lead-up to the Olympics. He had already delayed his arrival in Paris due to suspected kidney stones, but managed to clear 2.27 meters in Wednesday’s qualifications to advance to the final.Fidal president Stefano Mei stated, ‘We’ll see how the situation evolves, he’s doing a check-up, we’ll see the evaluation and then they’ll decide. He wants to compete but we need to make sure there’s no problem, no risk.’ Tamberi’s participation in the final, scheduled for 7 PM tonight, would be nothing short of miraculous given his current condition. The high jumper, who famously shared the gold medal with his friend Mutaz-Essa Barshim in Tokyo 2020, has previously stated that there’s a 99.9 percent chance that the Paris Games will be his final Olympics.
Key points
- Gianmarco Tamberi, Olympic high jump co-champion, is facing a severe health crisis hours before the Paris 2024 final.
- Despite being hospitalized for kidney colic and vomiting blood, Tamberi has announced his intention to compete.
- The Italian Athletics Federation has not ruled out his participation, but concerns remain about his condition and the risks involved.
- This may be Tamberi’s last Olympics, adding to the drama of his potential participation.
Contradictions👾While some sources report Tamberi’s determination to compete, others suggest his participation is still uncertain, reflecting the rapidly evolving nature of the situation.
