Gianmarco Tamberi is one of the world’s best high jumpers. He’s also one of the most endearing personalities in track and field.
The Italian star gave us one of the 2021 Summer Olympics’ best memories when he and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim opted to share gold in the event rather than force a jumpoff to crown a single champion. He didn’t have to hit that 2.37-meter (7-foot-8) mark to win gold at this year’s European Athletics Championships. A 2.34-meter jump was enough to top the standings.
And friends, if this was merely a world class jump, it wouldn’t be much of a story. But Tamberi is a madman, an athlete who fails to allow the stressors of elite competition to get to him. First, he showed up to the track looking like Will Forte in The Last Man on Earth:
Then, after clearing the bar, he excitedly dropped to the ground to take off the shoe on his left foot — the same one he just jumped from to win gold. Inside? About 50 clickable ballpoint pens’ worth of tiny springs. Make sure you’ve got your speakers on to hear one of the most joyful, authentic “mamma mia!” calls you’ll ever get from an Italian track announcer.
2.34m!! Gianmarco Tamberi! European champion!
Pulls out the springs from his spikes before celebrating!
🇮🇹 The home crowd goes WILD!
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) June 11, 2024
There are very few notable or original celebrations in track and field. Even Usain Bolt’s victory pose, famous as it may be, is pretty basic. But Tamberi went full Joe Horn with his celebration, planning it out well in advance to the potential detriment of his own performance. THE MAN JUMPED HIGHER THAN 7-FOOT-6 WITH HONEST TO GOODNESS SPRINGS IN HIS SHOE.
To which we say, hell yeah, brother. Can’t wait to see what he’s got planned for this year’s Olympics in Paris.
