Italy’s Olympic high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi announced today that his chances of defending the title were “all over.” However, he will still jump in the final later this evening.
Three years ago, Tamberi memorably shared the Olympic high jump title with Qatari athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim. He revealed he was “desperate” due to a new bout of renal colic caused by kidney stones but insisted he would still compete that night at seven p.m.
“It’s all over. Last night, another kidney colic. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going on the piste,” said the 32-year-old from Marche. “I’m desperate,” he admitted. “I really don’t know how I will be able to jump in these conditions.”
Tamberi, a double world champion, managed to qualify for the final in last place after battling colic and a fever.
More Olympic medals
Italy secured its eleventh gold at the Paris Olympics in the women’s Madison track cycling event. Italy came top of the table with 37 points, ahead of Great Britain in second with 31 and the Netherlands claiming bronze in third with 20 points. Racing for Italy were Elisa Balsamo, Chiara Consonnu, and Vittoria Guazzini.
Nadia Battocletti won a silver medal and set a new Italian record in the women’s 10,000 meters, finishing behind Kenyan Beatrice Chebet. Battocletti became the first European woman to medal in this event.
Battocletti, who had previously finished fourth in the 5,000 meters in Paris, said, “It also makes one smile a bit; my focus was on the 5,000. In recent weeks, I have had to reduce the load due to physical problems, so the 10,000 was not even on my mind. It’s only my fourth race at this distance. But I wanted to have some more fun, and I got there with a smile and lightness.” Afterward, she embraced former Olympic and world champion Gabriella Dorio, gold medalist in the 1500 meters at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, at the foot of the stands.
Italy also claimed four bronze medals on Friday: Sofia Raffaeli in individual rhythmic gymnastics, Nino Pizzolato in weightlifting, Simone Alessio in the 80 kg taekwondo category, and Andy Diaz in the triple jump.
Italy now ranks 10th in the Paris medal table with eleven golds, twelve silvers, and thirteen bronzes.
