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Olympic athletes preferred friendship to gold: they renounce being the best in the world and share a medal

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games continue to surprise the entire world, both for the performance of the athletes and for the stories and life lessons they give us, as did Mutaz Essa Barshim, from Qatar, and Gianmarco Tamberi, from Italy. .

These athletes tied for first place in the high jump. The jury told them that they could perform their jump one more time to break the tie and show who of the two was the best in the world, but they decided not to. Instead, they shared the medal and place on the award podium, giving a life lesson to all the spectators. And, of course, obtaining the respect and admiration of Internet users.

After a grueling two-hour Olympic competition in high jumps, Mutaz and Gianmarco were tied. Both had the same overcome heights and the same failures. Their participation closed with jumps of 2.37 meters and they had no unsuccessful attempts until they wanted to exceed 2.39. This gave them a tie for first place.

Faced with the imminent fact of having only one winner, the judge who was present told Mutaz that he could try to jump again to overcome his colleague, something that any other athlete would have accepted in order to demonstrate his ability. However, he refused to do so and instead asked what would happen if the two were tied. The judge could only smile and told him that they would both take home the gold medal.

Mutaz accepted the offer to share a medal with his colleague and the world fell at his feet, because with a simple gesture he demonstrated the true meaning of the Olympic Games: It is not about being the best, but about helping each other to be our best version.

Gianmarco couldn’t believe what was happening, as his colleague was willing to share first place with him. So she could only scream with emotion and fall to the floor to cry due to the conflicting emotions that shook her mind and heart.

At the end, they both hugged each other, walked the track carrying the flags of their respective countries on their backs and climbed the podium to be crowned with the gold medal. Notably, Maksim Nedasekau from Belarus took bronze. He also jumped to 2.37 meters, but had more failed attempts throughout the competition.

He’s one of my best friends, not just on the track, but off it. We work together. This is a dream come true. It is the true spirit, the sportsmanship spirit, and we are here transmitting this message.

– Mutaz

Did you know that, according to data from the BBC, shared gold medals have been awarded 30 times in the summer games, especially in the gymnastics category, not athletics? That is why the experience that Mutaz and Gianmarco gave the world is an unforgettable fact.


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