Rome Diamond League 2024: Gianmarco Tamberi ties for third as Woo Sanghyeok wins
The Italian Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, who has overcome recent injury and illness, tied Ukraine's Oleh Doroshchuk on 2.27m for third place as Republic of Korea's Woo Sanghyeok won at 2.30m.
Athletics
The entire Stadio Olimpico was quiet and watching one man: Gianmarco Tamberi.
Italy's Tokyo 2020 joint-Olympic champion in the men's high jump had brought the bar down twice at 2.30m and needed to clear his final jump to stay in the competition at the Golden Gala, Rome's Diamond League athletics meet, on Friday (30 August).
As he began his run up, the 32-year-old perhaps sensed his step was off. He clattered into the bar and let out a frustrated yell, as his home crowd offered consolatory applause for their home hero.
And yet, even tying for third in a Diamond League meet on 2.27m (alongside Ukraine's Oleh Doroshchuk) doesn't tell the story of what Tamberi has been through in recent weeks after winning European gold in this very stadium with a world-leading 2.37m in June.
The Italian carried his nation's flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in July, before returning to Italy to continue training before the athletics meet began in the second half of the Olympic calendar.
But Tamberi nearly didn't make it back to Paris, suffering from kidney stones and renal failures just days before the high jump competition was due to begin.
After finishing 11th in the final battling through the pain, Tamberi returned to win the Silesia Diamond League last Sunday. And while the Italian will undoubtedly be disappointed with a third-place finish on home soil having won last weekend, few would consider it to be a disappointment after everything he has overcome.
"I wanted to reward me and the audience tonight but 2.27m is not what I expected, I am sorry about that," Tamberi said. "The fans supported me so much, they embraced me so beautifully.
"Today a good competition would have been so important for me. Paris was very sad for me. I achieved 2.27m with the help of the audience (but) I am so disappointed."
The event was won by Republic of Korea's Woo Sanghyeok, who successfully cleared 2.30m. Jamaica's Romaine Beckford was second, also clearing 2.30m but being ranked behind Woo on count-back.
Pietro Mennea Golden Gala - Rome Diamond League 2024 - Men's high jump results
1. Woo Sanghyeok (KOR) 2.30m
2. Romaine Beckford (JAM) 2.30m PB
=3. Oleh Doroshchuk (UKR) 2.27m
=3. Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) 2.27m
5. Edgar Rivera (MEX) 2.24m
6. Jan Stefela (CZE) 2.20m
7. Tihomir Ivanov (BUL) 2.20m
=8. Manuel Lando (ITA) 2.15m
=8. Brian Raats (RSA) 2.15m