A Qatari athlete and an Italian one are being praised for agreeing to share a gold medal at the Olympics.
On Sunday, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim, 30, and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, 29, competed in the men’s high jump at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. After both had cleared 2.37 meters (7.78 feet) without having any failed jumps in the competition, each was unable to clear the 2.39-meter (7.84-foot) mark in three attempts. An Olympic official then offered them a “jump-off” to decide the gold medal winner. When Barshim, who won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, asked if they could both win gold, the official agreed, media reported.