Anthony Ammirati, the French pole vaulter whose Olympic performance became a viral sensation, has finally addressed the incident that overshadowed his competition at the Paris 2024 Games.
The 21-year-old athlete spoke publicly for the first time about his disappointment following a high-profile mishap during the men’s pole vault event. On August 3, Ammirati’s attempt to clear a height of 5.70 meters was thwarted by an unexpected obstacle: his own body.
In an unusual and unexpected turn of events, Ammirati’s pole vaulting pole was knocked down by his bulge as he made his third and final attempt. This misjudgment led to his failure to qualify for the finals, where he ultimately finished in 12th place with a height of 5.60 meters. He had previously cleared two heights but fell short of his target due to this unforeseen issue.
“It’s a big disappointment,” Ammirati told the French Athletics Federation. “I’m a bit gutted because I didn’t miss anything on the third attempt at 5.70 meters. What I did miss was a bit of jumping in training to fine-tune the settings. Just a technical session.”
Ammirati’s comments come after the incident garnered significant attention on social media, where it sparked widespread commentary and speculation. Despite the viral nature of the mishap, Ammirati chose to focus on his performance rather than the unexpected distraction.
“The conditions were good. It’s the first time I’ve started a competition without any stress,” Ammirati said. “As I was a total outsider, I only had one goal: to interact with the audience. I was almost there.”
The incident left commentators at the event visibly flustered. They struggled to articulate the cause of the pole’s fall, adding to the spectacle surrounding Ammirati’s performance.
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This mishap was reminiscent of a similar incident at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where Japanese pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita experienced a similar problem. The repetition of such an occurrence highlights the unique challenges athletes face in the pole vaulting discipline.
Ammirati’s misfortune was not isolated among French pole vaulters. His compatriot, Thibault Collet, also faced disappointment. Collet, who had been a strong contender after clearing 5.95 meters in June, finished 11th in Paris with a height of 5.75 meters.
“When people say that the Games are different, well, it really is different,” Collet said. “I thought it wouldn’t necessarily affect me by arriving with potentially the third world performance of the year, but that doesn’t mean anything. Today, I missed my competition. I knew that this qualification was going to be tough and now I’m taking it in the face. The Olympic Games are over. I’m going to pack my bags before going home.”
Both Ammirati and Collet’s performances were met with a mix of disappointment and introspection, reflecting the high stakes and pressures of Olympic competition. As the Games continue, the pole vaulting community and fans alike will remember the Paris 2024 Olympics for more than just the heights cleared, but also for the unique challenges faced by its athletes.
