OLYMPIC high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi has been hospitalised with a suspected kidney problem THREE DAYS before qualification begins.
The Italian, 32, was involved in an iconic moment at the Tokyo Games three years ago when he agreed to share gold with Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barsham.
But his preparations for the 2024 Olympics have been thrown into chaos as a pain in his side has led to him being hospitalised.
Tamberi has also had to postpone his flight to Paris due to the unexpected health scare.
Speaking on Instagram, he said: “Unbelievable… This can’t be true.
“Yesterday, two hours after writing ‘I deserve it’ on social media, I felt a stabbing pain in my side. Emergency room, CT scan, ultrasound, blood test.
“And now I find myself, three days before the event for which I sacrificed everything, lying in a bed, helpless, with a fever of 38.8.
“I was supposed to be leaving for Paris today to begin my journey toward this big dream, and instead I’ve been advised to postpone the flight until tomorrow in the hopes that with some rest this nightmare will be over.
“All I can do is wait and pray.. I don’t deserve all this, I did everything for this Olympics, everything. I really don’t deserve it.”
Despite the hospitalisation, Tamberi insists he will compete in Paris next week.
He added: “Only one thing is certain, I don’t know how I will get there, but I will be there on that platform and I will give my soul until the last jump, whatever my condition will be.”
Tamberi has cleared the best height of 2024 so far after he jumped 2.37 metres in June.
But a thigh injury has threatened to hamper his Olympic hopes, while rival Barshim has also been struggling with fitness issues.
Qualifying kicks off on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s final.
