Photo : webshot. 

August 2,2021

Andrew Campbell 

After an exhausting two-hour competition, Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy finish the high jump event at the Tokyo Olympics on July 31 with an unprecedented shared gold medal.

Both had cleared the 2.37 meter mark, but had used up all three attempts and were unable to clear the 2.39 meter mark, creating a quandary. Barshim and Tamberi could compete in a jump-off, followed by a tie-breaker, to determine the winner. Then, a Games official approached the two athletes and agreed to their decision to share the gold medal, prompting the overjoyed athletes to high five before Tamberi embraced Barshim in ecstatic celebration.

They did, however, decide to split the gold medal. This was the first joint Olympic podium in athletics since 1912. And their decision becomes the most emotional moment of the Tokyo Olympics thus far.