It was just six days ago, and now it’s happening again! On August 4th, Gianmarco Tamberi’s defense of the high jump gold medal was jeopardized when he was hospitalized with suspected kidney problems, just four days before the qualifying event. On August 10th, his chances of defending his Olympic high jump title are in jeopardy as he endures the same severe kidney pain that necessitated a hospital visit just days before the preliminary round.

The 32-year-old Gianmarco Tamberi faced a new challenge when he awoke at 5 a.m. on Saturday with intense pain from kidney colic – acute pain in the kidney area caused by an obstruction. This discomfort had been troubling him a few days earlier, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his upcoming performance.

In a recent Instagram post, Tamberi expressed his deep frustration and disappointment saying, “It’s all finished….”. He reflected on the support and affection he had received, which gave him the strength to confront this issue. Despite his efforts to stay hopeful, he acknowledged that the pain from kidney colic has persisted, leaving him unable to manage the situation as he had hoped.

As he puts it, “The pain is still not over. I managed to beat fate once after that injury in 2016, this time unfortunately I really think he won. I’m speechless, truly, so sorry.” Tamberi expressed his sorrow and uncertainty about competing under these conditions, adding, “Am i going down in pedana tonight. Si, ma non so davvero come farò in queste condizioni a saltare….😔”

UPDATE: 4:43 PM, 10TH AUGUST: Gianmarco Tamberi shared a post on Instagram detailing his ongoing struggle with kidney colic, which has persisted for 10 hours now. He described the intense pain he’s enduring as overshadowing his inner turmoil and lamented that his last shred of certainty is slipping away. Having been rushed to the ER, “after vomiting blood twice. Now I’m going to have more tests to figure out what’s going on”, Tamberi is set for more tests to uncover the cause of his distress. Despite the overwhelming support and messages he’s received, he feels he’s living a nightmare rather than the dream he had for this day.

UPDATE: 8:44 PM: Gianmarco Tamberi took to Instagram to announce, “I will be there!” It remains unclear whether he will be competing or simply cheering from the stands.

Despite everything, getting this far shows he’s weathered many storms and proven his remarkable determination.

Gianmarco Tamberi’s Olympic journey was marred by personal and physical hurdles

Joint-defending champions Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim both advanced to the high jump final, but their paths to the event were far from straightforward. Tamberi struggled with three unsuccessful attempts at 2.27 meters, while Barshim managed to clear the height only after receiving extensive treatment for an injury.

Their current journey contrasts with their gold-sharing moment in Tokyo three years ago. Recently, Tamberi posted from his hospital bed, worried about a kidney stone. This setback delayed his trip to France and followed a thigh injury, adding to his challenges despite a strong performance in June with a season-best 2.37 meters at the European Championships.

Meanwhile, Barshim, who has also been battling injury issues this season, initially struggled with a calf problem but managed to clear 2.27 meters after treatment. He, too, looked forward to the final, though his performance showed signs of ongoing discomfort. However, Gianmarco Tamberi has been making headlines since the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics.

Well, on 26th July, Gianmarco Tamberi lost his wedding ring in the Seine River during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Serving as Italy’s flagbearer, Tamberi’s ring slipped off his finger and fell into the river amidst the excitement. In an Instagram post, he apologized to his wife, Chiara Bontempi Tamberi, reflecting on the mishap and suggesting they renew their vows with a new ring. Despite the setback, Chiara appreciated his romantic gesture, and Tamberi remained focused on his Olympic goals, with hopes of winning another gold medal in the men’s high jump but ultimately fell short of his target.