Pole Vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s Disqualification from Olympics due to Medical Reasons
French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati‘s Olympic dream has come to an end due to a graphic reason.
During the men’s qualifying event at the Paris Olympics on August 3, the 21-year-old failed to clear his target height and inadvertently got tangled with the crossbar, causing it to fall to the ground. Ammirati, visibly shocked by the incident, finished 15th in the competition.
“It’s a huge disappointment,” expressed the first-time Olympian in a statement shared by the French Athletics Federation. “The conditions were ideal. It was the first time I felt no pressure going into a competition. Being a complete underdog, my only aim was to entertain the crowd. I was so close.”
Ammirati also reposted a message from the French sports academy Envol, but did not address the incident that led to his elimination, which gained widespread attention.
“We are proud of you @anthony_ammirati,” read the academy’s Instagram post in French. “Despite the challenges you faced in the past two weeks, you showed up. Although we share your frustration regarding the 5m70 bar incident, we hope you have an unforgettable Olympic experience.”