If you know who Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim are, then you surely remember what these two athletes did three years ago. They shared their Olympic gold medal after achieving the same heights in the men’s high jump final at the Tokyo Olympics. On August 10, a similar situation unfolded at the Stade de France, where Hamish Kerr and Shelby McEwen both cleared 2.34 meters. But this time, the athletes chose not to share the gold. Instead, they opted for a tiebreaker, which ultimately awarded Kerr the gold medal. This decision frustrated many sports fans, who blamed McEwen for missing out on the gold. However, McEwen has earned the respect of Katie Moon.

The pole vaulter stood firm while countering critics like Rodger Sherman, who had blamed the American high jumper for leaving the sure-shot Olympic gold that could have given the USA an edge over China’s gold medal count. But the 33-year-old mentioned, “We chose to share the gold last year, and we were called cowards, weak, etc. This year, an athlete chooses to jump off, and they’re shamed for it as well.” She ultimately supported the athletes for going with their own choices last night. Meanwhile, under Katie’s X-post, one fan said that belittling Tamberi and Barshim’s work could be “truly unhinged” work. Katie Moon supported that comment as well. But as per Shelby McEwen, his opponent actually pushed for the jump-off last night. 

Before coming to the much-debated decision, both athletes tried three times to clear the 2.38. They had already attempted 2.36 m, which proved to be the Oceania record. Next, they engaged in exchanging words to decide whether to carry on or not. There came the defining moment. “We’re good buddies, good opponents, and good jumpers when we jump together. He said he wanted to face off, and I was all for it,” the American jumper narrated as the circumstances changed. Hamish Kerr did not go off-radar. 

The world indoor champion admitted that the scene from the Tokyo Olympics had no less than a hearty moment for him. Still, he decided because he had to attain some internal things. “To choose to do the jump-off was putting at peace one of those people who wanted to jump-off, so we’re both really happy to add to that history,” he explained. According to Katie, athletes can’t make everyone happy, and that should not hinder them from following their hearts. After all, Katie Moon followed her heart and did things that equaled hers with Tamberi and Barshim. 

Katie Moon holds no bar while remembering the night in Budapest 

At the Paris Olympics, Katie Moon could not match her arch-rival. Nina Kennedy. The Australian took away the gold medal, while the Ohio native grabbed the gold. But after the contest, both readily remembered what they had done at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. 

It was the same as Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim, as both Katie and Nina preferred to share the gold medal at the pole vault event. Relishing that moment, Nina said, “I have genuinely thought about this night, every single day, since those Budapest world championships – that night in Budapest felt amazing, but the next thought was that now I have to win Olympics.” Katie Moon also remembers that encounter. 

In her X-post, she wrote, “Unfortunately, many people didn’t seem to find it as awesome when Nina and I did it last year.” The sadness filled her, but what she and Nina Kenedy carried out between themselves was no less magical. In Budapest, she was the one to suggest sharing the gold medal with the Australian athlete. Ultimately, she commented,  “We went out and we both did pretty much the same thing and it just felt right. We both won today so it was the right call!” That’s an example of following own heart. Isn’t it?