World Athletics Championships 2023: Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi wins high jump gold
The Olympic champion adds a first world title to his collection after an excellent performance in Budapest. The USA's JuVaughn Harrison settles for silver while Qatar's Mutaz Barshim wins bronze
Athletics
Gianmarco Tamberi has won his first-ever world high jump title after a thrilling display at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Tuesday 22 August).
The reigning Olympic champion jumped a world lead of 2.36 metres to claim gold, with the USA's JuVaughn Harrison finishing second on countback despite clearing the same height.
Third place and the bronze medal went to Qatar's Mutaz Barshim, who failed his three attempts to clear 2.36. This is the first time Barshim has not been crowned champion at a major championship since he finished second at Rio 2016.
Despite being Olympic champion, Tamberi has never tasted victory in a World Championships, finishing fourth in his last outing at Oregon 22.
And while the day belonged to the Italian, he still had time for his good friend Barshim, with whom he shared Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, embracing him warmly after the latter exited the competition.
"Just amazing," Tamberi replied when asked how he felt in an interview with France TV after the final. "I feel like a human being who beat some superheroes tonight."
And when asked about the raucous Italian fan base who cheered his every jump throughout the competition, the new world champion said the atmosphere made him feel right at home.
"I live off these moments," he said. "My way to approach the competition is to be myself and to express all the emotions I have inside."
The fairytale continues for one of the most memorable Olympic champions
Tamberi and Barshim's shared gold at Tokyo 2020 was one of the most unforgettable moments of the last Olympic Games.
With both scaling the height of 2.37m, the two opted against a jump-off in favour of both returning home as Olympic champions. It was the first time in over a century that there was a joint Olympic podium.
Now the dream has continued for Tamberi who has won his first World Championships gold at the fifth attempt. The Italian is now the reigning world and Olympic champion - titles that until tonight were both owned by Barshim, who has been a companion of his for over a decade.
"I know that I competed against crazy athletes, like Mutaz Barshim, he's like a superhero for me," Tamberi said of the bronze medallist. "It's not easy to beat such a great talent. I'm very happy, I'm really proud of the work I put in."
Barshim, who won his fifth World Championships medal today - the most of any high jumper in history - was equally pleased with his performance despite not leaving the stadium with gold.
"To me, it's not just a podium," he told reporters after the final. "I've been on thousands of podiums. Today it was a moment in history."
But the night belongs to Tamberi, who can now look forward to going to the 2024 Olympic Games with a coveted world title in his collection.
"See you in Paris next year," the overjoyed gold medallist exclaimed.