They both cleared the highest bar, but when it came to deciding a winner, two Olympic high jumpers asked to share the gold medal.
During the long competition, 30-year-old Mutaz Essa Barshim from Qatar and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, 29, executed the first six jumps up to 2.37 meters (7 feet 8 inches).
Both then attempted to match the Olympic record of 2.39 meters for sole ownership of the title.
However, after three attempts, neither succeeded. “Can we have two golds?” Barshim asked a Games official.
The official nodded, prompting the overjoyed athletes to high five, before Tamberi embraced Barshim in an elated display of celebration.
