Gianmarco Tamberi confirms participation in high jump finals despite battling a severe kidney issue at Paris Olympics 2024

Reigning high jump Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi's title defense at the Paris Olympics is on, as he has confirmed his participation in the high jump finals. The update came after he was sent to the emergency room due to vomiting blood, a result of a recurring kidney disease.

Tamberi, 32, is participating in the third Olympic event of his career in Paris, where he competed in the preliminary round on Wednesday, August 7, and placed second with a jump of 2.24 meters. Following that, the Italian prodigy was scheduled to compete in the finals to defend the Olympic title he shared with Mutaz Essa Barshim at the Tokyo Games.

His title defense at the Paris Olympics looked in jeopardy after he was admitted to the emergency room due to vomiting blood from kidney colic, a health issue where intense pain occurs when a stone obstructs the urinary tract.

Tamberi took to his Instagram handle on Saturday and wrote:

"It's been 10 hours and the kidney colic is still not over. The pain I've been feeling this morning, no matter how strong, is nothing compared to what I'm feeling inside. Even what was my last certainty is about to fade away..... Just been rushed to the ER after vomiting blood twice. Now I'm going to have more tests to see what's going on, I'll update you because the many messages I'm getting and the love you're showing me, the less I deserve a response. Everything I've dreamed for this day except living such a nightmare..."

However, in a recent development, the track and field icon has confirmed his participation at the Paris Olympics. Gianmarco Tamberi himself shared the update through an Instagram post that was shared by Track & Field Gazette on their X handle (formerly Twitter), writing:

""I will be there!" The latest from Tamberi."

Gianmarco Tamberi comes to Mutaz Essa Barshim's aid after an injury scare at Paris Olympics

Athletics - Olympics: Day 10 - Source: Getty

Both Gianmarco Tamberi and his fellow reigning high jump Olympic champion, Mutaz Essa Barshim Qatar, participated in the qualifying rounds on Wednesday, August 7, where he experienced some discomfort in his left leg during his first attempt and was seen limping afterward.

Immediately, the 32-year-old Italian rushed over to check on him. Tamberi's heartwarming gesture was shared by Travis Miller, the NBC Sports Director of Social Media, on his X handle, writing:

"Mutaz Essa Barshim pulled up grabbing his calf during high jump qualifying. Gianmarco Tamberi, who shared gold with him at the Tokyo Olympics, was the first to run over to help."

Despite the scare, both Barshim and his Italian counterpart qualified for the finals later that day.