Gianmarco Tamberi between Lausanne and his wedding

The words of Gianmarco Tamberi

One year later, back in Lausanne for the first competition with gold around his neck. In 2021 he was returning from his memorable triumph at the Tokyo Games, this time at the Swiss meet Gianmarco Tamberi shows up eight days after his success at the European Championships in Munich. “Last season it was a good moment when I was presented as the Olympic champion, for a moment I said to myself ‘but who is the Olympic champion?’ and now I am here for another challenge and to have fun.”

Together with the crowd, which lights up with each of his jumps, and together with opponents such as Mutaz Barshim, the Qatar outfielder with whom he shared the Olympic title, who dominated this year’s World Championships in Eugene where the Italian placed fourth. The Ancona native of the Fiamme Oro is also the defending champion of the Wanda Diamond League and goes to the platform to secure qualification for the finals on September 7 and 8 in Zurich: he is currently third in the rankings.

Smiling and relaxed, ready for a joke, the two friends both wear wide-brimmed hats (“but mine is nicer,” Tamberi jokes). The golden couple of the high jump exchanges glances of complicity: “We are like brothers,” the words of the Marche man, “and Mutaz will be at my wedding next week, on September 1, just as I was present at his a few years ago. We talk to each other often, and we mostly talk … about food! Or we play video game duels, like online checkers. It’s harder to find time together during the season, though, since we’re focused on racing anyway.”