A French pole vaulter's Olympic debut was marred when his own anatomy disrupted a vault, preventing a finals appearance.
French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati's debut at the Paris Olympics 2024 was overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events.
Amidst the high-stakes competition, a rare and unforeseen incident involving his manhood contributed to his missing out on a spot in the final round, where he could have competed against the record-setting Swede, Armand Duplantis.
23:30 - 05.08.2024
Paris Olympics 2024: Mary Moraa settles for Bronze in women's 800m final as Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson reigns supreme
Mary Moraa was forced to seal the podium in the tight women's 800m final, finishing third behind Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson and Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma.
The 21-year-old athlete cleared several heights in qualification rounds with ease and seemed on track to advance.
However, his final jump at 5.60 meters, which initially appeared successful, was ultimately thwarted by his penis touching the bar, causing it to fall.
Reflecting on the incident, Ammirati shared his feelings in a statement posted by the French Athletics 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 audience. I was almost there," it reads.
Experts and spectators have since debated the rarity of such an occurrence.
21:59 - 05.08.2024
Paris Olympics: Noah Lyles begins 200m campaign on a high as Bednarek, Knighton, Tebogo & Uganda's Orogot also sail through
Noah Lyles begins 200m campaign on a high with dominant heat win, with several African sprinters, including Uganda's Tarsis Orogot also clinching semi-final spots.
Dr. Helena Bouchard, a sports psychologist, commented on the psychological impact of such incidents.
"For an athlete, especially in a high-profile setting like the Olympics, any distraction or unusual setback can have significant emotional repercussions. It’s essential to acknowledge these challenges and support athletes through them," she explained.
Meanwhile, the event moved forward, and the spotlight turned to Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who continued to dominate the sport.
Duplantis broke his own world record by clearing 6.25 meters, an achievement that earned him his second consecutive Olympic gold in pole vaulting.
21:00 - 05.08.2024
Explained: Understanding why Noah Lyles won Olympic gold despite Kishane Thompson's foot crossing the line first
Noah Lyles won the Olympic 100m gold in a photo finish, edging Kishane Thompson by leaning his torso across first.
His performance at the Paris Olympics not only secured his place in the history books but also raised the bar for future competitions.
Sam Kendricks from the USA and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece also delivered impressive performances, securing silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Kendricks achieved a height of 5.95 meters while Karalis matched this but took bronze due to countback rules.