Pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati's journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics literally came crashing down on August 3. During his third attempt to clear a height of 5.70 meters, Ammirati's legs touched the crossbar before his crotch dislodged it on the way down.
Ammirati, who cleared the crossbar at 5.40-meters and 5.60-meters, finished in 15th place, and only the Top 12 proceed to the Finals on August 5. While the 21-year-old failed to make it past the qualifying round, for many fans, he's still a winner. Ammirati became an overnight sensation, as video of his failed pole vault attempt quickly went viral.
While he did not comment on the overwhelming reaction to his performance, Ammirati delivered a statement on his Olympics journey coming to an end.
"It’s a big disappointment. I’m a bit gutted," he said, via the French Athletic Federation . "The conditions were good. It’s the first time I’ve started a competition without any stress. As I was a total outsider, I only had one goal: to play with the crowd. I was almost there.”
Ammirati, who won gold at World Athletics U20 Championships in 2022, is not competing in any other events. French sports academy Envol posted a tribute to the young competitor on Instagram after the event.
"We are proud of you @anthony_ammirati despite the last two weeks of being physically disturbed you managed to show up, even though we are frustrated like you for that 5m70 bar. We wish you an unforgettable Olympic experience."
After video of his failed pole vault went viral, Ammirati's Instagram page jumped from having about 8,400 followers to over 45,000.
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