An Italian flag bearer lost his WEDDING RING in the River Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony on Friday night.
Reigning Olympic high-jumping champion Gianmarco Tamberi’s martial band slipped off during the parade, which was hit with heavy rain.
Tamberi was leading the pack as a flag bearer on the Italian boat, alongside fencing great Arianna Errigo.
But the 32-year-old was devastated to see his beloved wedding ring fall off his finger and sink beneath the murky river.
So much so that the Athletics star issued a grovelling apology to his wife Chiara Bontempi Tamberi on Saturday.
He wrote on Instagram: “I’m sorry my love. Too much water, too many kilos lost in the last few months or maybe the irrepressible enthusiasm of what we were doing.
“Probably all three things, the fact remains that I felt my ring slip away, I saw it fly.
“I followed it with my gaze until I saw it bounce inside the boat.”
Tamberi said that his gold ring then bounced into the Seine in what he described as “a few moments that lasted forever.”
He added: “But if it really had to happen, if I really had to lose it, I couldn’t imagine a better place. It will remain forever in the riverbed of the City of Love.”
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WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
THE PARIS 2024 Olympics started with a stunning Opening Ceremony – and now the Games really do begin.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a thrilling first full day.
Josh Tarling and Anna Henderson are both in road cycling time trial action along the streets of Paris (from 1.30pm), leading today’s Brit medal hopes.
Michael Bargeron and Seonaid McIntosh team up in the 10m mixed shooting trying to win the first gold of the 2024 Games (10am).
In diving, 3m synchro pair Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen could medal (10am).
And Team GB expect a medal from their swimmers in both of the 4x100m freestyle relays (8.30pm).
While three-time Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty begins his quest for 100m breaststroke glory (heat 10.30am, semi-final 8.15pm).
And Max Whitlock is eyeing a pommel horse medal for a fourth Games in a row as gymnastics qualifying gets underway (10am).
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
Tamberi believes the mishap is an excuse to renew his vows and get married again, and perhaps serves as an impetus to earn more Olympic hardware.
He ended his touching post with: “May it be a good omen to return home with an even bigger gold!”
The Italian star will look to defend his title on August 7 inside the iconic and newly transformed Stade de France.
Tamberi made history in Tokyo 2020 when he and Qatari athlete Mutaz Barshim shared gold in the men’s high-jump.
The pair warmed the hearts of viewers after they learned that they could both be crowned champions.
In extraordinary scenes, both stars immediately embraced each other in excitement following their record-breaking feat.
Tamberi also goes into Paris as world and European champion.
