French Pole Vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s Olympic Dream Cut Short

In a surprising turn of events at the men’s qualifying event on August 3, French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s Olympic journey took an unexpected and unfortunate twist.

The 21-year-old athlete was aiming to impress but faced a dramatic moment when he missed his target height. In an awkward landing, his crotch got caught on the crossbar, causing it to crash down to the mat. The incident left Ammirati holding his head in disbelief as he landed.

Despite the mishap, Ammirati managed to place 15th in the competition. After the event, he expressed his disappointment in a statement posted on social media. “It’s a big disappointment,” he admitted. “The conditions were good. It’s the first time I’ve started a competition without any stress.”

As a first-time Olympian, Ammirati had a simple goal: to engage with the audience and enjoy the experience. He shared, “I was almost there,” reflecting on his aspirations to connect with the crowd rather than just aiming for a medal.

Ammirati’s academy, Envol, shared a supportive post on Instagram, expressing pride in him and acknowledging the challenges he faced in the weeks leading up to the event. “We wish you to live an unforgettable Olympic experience,” they wrote in French.

To qualify for the men’s pole vault final, competitors needed to clear a height of at least 5.8 meters or finish among the top 12. Ammirati achieved a height of 5.60 meters, placing him in a tie with athletes from Belgium, Norway, and Poland for 15th place.

In contrast, Sweden‘s Armand Duplantis soared to secure the top performance of the day with a height of 5.75 meters, demonstrating the level of competition in the event.