We often think of sporting games as the winner takes all. Champions are made by 1st place wins, and there is no room at the top for more than one person. Especially in the Olympics.
But in the Tokyo Olympics, two high jumpers proved that reaching that elusive gold medal didn’t have to be a solo prize. In fact, after the two tied for first place 3 times, they and the judges came up with a solution no one saw coming – they could both take home the gold.
And that is just what they did. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, along with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, continuously landed at 2.37 meters for their high jumps. One of the two needed to reach 2.39 meters to win first place. However, both athletes missed that goal, essentially tying three times for first.
Olympic officials told the pair they would need to do a ‘jump-off’ to decide who would win silver and who would win the gold medal. Unsatisfied with that, Barshim asked simply, “Can we have two golds?”
From left, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, along with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, celebrate their shared gold medal win. Photo by Getty Images
“It’s possible,” the official responded. “It depends, if you both decide…” And that was all the two jumpers needed to hear. Immediately they began celebrating, a heartwarming display that left everyone smiling.
The men are friends and have known each other for more than a decade. No one was shocked that the duo would want to share a win with one another. The BBC reported that no one has shared a gold medal since 1912.
The friends described their historic moment to CNN. “I look at him, he looks at me, and we know it,” Barshim said. “We just look at each other and we know, that is it, it is done. There is no need.”
He is one of my best friends,” Barshim added, “not only on the track, but outside the track. We work together. This is a dream come true. It is the true spirit, the sportsman spirit, and we are here delivering this message.”
For Tamberi, this win had an even more special meaning. In 2016, he suffered a horrific injury before the Rio Olympics, and was no longer able to compete.
From left, Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, celebrate their shared gold medal win. Photo by Getty Images
“After my injuries, I just wanted to come back,” Tamberi told CNN. “But now I have this gold, it’s incredible. I dreamed of this so many times. I was told in 2016 just before Rio, there was a risk I wouldn’t be able to compete anymore. It’s been a long journey.”
What an amazing display of friendship and sportsmanship from this pair of friends. Watch below for a look at their historic win in the Tokyo Olympics.
