When he shared the Olympic victory with his friend Mutaz Barshim in Tokyo, his jubilation went around the world. In Munich, the Italian Gianmarco Tamberi is the best again – and is now preparing for his wedding.
What Gianmarco Tamberi has achieved in his high jump career is written on his purple shoe: “World Indoor Championships – done; European Indoor Championships – done; European Championships – done; Olympics – done,” explained Tamberi, holding up his spikes. He hadn’t immortalized the European Championship title from Thursday evening so spontaneously, but the victory in Munich was already the second European Championship gold for the Italian. Second was Tobias Potye from Munich ahead of Andrij Prozenko from Ukraine. He was effusively hugged by Tamberi.
The 30-year-old knows his way around hugging. Last year at the Tokyo Olympics, Tamberi hugged his opponent, friend and shared winner, Mutaz Barshim. What the Qatari and the Italian decided back then is not missing in any highlight compilation of the games: both had jumped 2.37 meters with the same number of failed attempts, both had failed three times at 2.39 meters. While the referee was still explaining the procedure of a jump-off, Barshim asked if they could both get gold. When the referee said yes, there was no stopping Tamberi. He ran off jubilantly, both had made history. “Tokyo was the best moment of my career, I would do it again and again,” said Tamberi later.
The Italian was even a guest at Mutaz Barshim’s wedding and Barshim will be a guest at Tamberi’s wedding on September 1. The bachelor party will be celebrated together with the European championship title in Munich: “My friends are coming on Friday,” he told Italian broadcaster RaiSport.
What Tamberi is still missing from his long list of successes: the world title
Gianmarco Tamberi has been jumping on the international stage for over ten years. With 2.39 meters he holds the Italian record in the high jump, incidentally called “salto in alto” in his native language. Tamberi is best known for shaving one side of his beard at finals as a teenager. This earned him the nickname “Halfshave”. He now competes with a full three-day beard: “It’s just something I’ve done from the start, it was a lucky charm. Now I only do it sometimes.”
What Tamberi is still missing from his long list of successes: the world championship title. In Eugene, his friend Mutaz Barshim won. Gianmarco Tamberi is confident for 2023 in Budapest: “World Championships – still loading” is written on his shoe.