Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi has issued a heartfelt apology to his wife after losing his wedding ring during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The 32-year-old world champion was waving the Italian flag as the boat carrying the country’s athletes sailed down the River Seine when the ring slipped off his finger.
“I’m sorry my love, I’m so sorry,” Tamberi wrote on Instagram in a post dedicated to his wife, Chiara Bontempi Tamberi. He attributed the mishap to “losing too many kilos” and his “irrepressible enthusiasm” during the event.
The athlete, who described the incident as “poetic,” claimed the ring would now “remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love.” He even suggested that they throw Chiara’s ring into the river too, so the rings could be “together forever,” giving them an excuse to renew their vows and marry again.
Chiara responded to her husband’s apology with a romantic note of her own: “Only you could turn this into something romantic.”
Tamberi, who has been married to Chiara since September 2022, was waving Italy’s flag alongside three-time Olympic medal winner Arianna Errigo when the ring fell off, bounced off the boat, and disappeared into the river. He described these moments as “a few moments that lasted forever.”
The high jumper previously made headlines at the Tokyo 2020 Games when he shared the gold medal with Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim after both opted not to go beyond the 2.37m bar they had cleared. Tamberi is also known for his unique “trademark” style of sporting a half-shaven beard during competitions since 2011.
The Paris Olympics have already seen their share of drama and excitement, but Tamberi’s loss of his wedding ring adds a unique, personal story to the event’s narrative. As the games continue, the Italian high jumper’s romantic mishap will likely be remembered as one of the more touching moments of the 2024 Olympics.
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