Gianmarco Tamberi, known for his signature half-shaved beard, had already secured victory before he cleared a championship-record 2.37 meters on his first attempt, adding shine to his third title at the European Athletics Championships on Tuesday
For the unfamiliar, before and during the competition, Tamberi bowed to Italy’s president and later shared an embrace with him in the stands after clinching another European title, solidifying his status as a favorite to defend gold at the Paris Games.
Explained why does Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi sport a half beard
He’s famous as he chooses to wear a half-beard, where one side of his face is clean-shaven and the other side is a well-manicured beard.
Tamberi had explained that he wears the half-beard to “entertain the crowd.”
What Did Gianmarco Tamberi Say?
During the media briefing after winning the championship, Tamberi said, “I knew I was in superb shape and I proved it.
“I pretended to be injured and hid springs in my shoes. I think some people fell for it. I did great things. Now it’s time for the Olympics.”
The Italian phenomenon Gianmarco Tamberi, known as Gimbo, soars higher than everyone with 2.37m and wins the gold medal at the European Championships in 📍Rome!
Italian pride! 🇮🇹🏆🇮🇹🏆pic.twitter.com/2rtvKWNrp7
— Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) June 12, 2024
Apart from Tamberi, Two Ukrainians, Vladyslav Lavskyy (2.29 meters) and Oleh Doroshchuk (2.26 meters), claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
What is Next for Tamberi?
Next for Tamberi, who shared gold with his friend Mutaz Barshim at the Tokyo Games, is a meeting on Thursday with Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella to officially receive the country’s flag, which he and fencer Arianna Errigo will carry at the Paris opening ceremony on July 26.
Tamberi also captains Italy’s rapidly improving athletics team, which is leading the medals table at the Euros with a national record of 10 golds and 20 medals overall.
Who is Gianmarco Tamberi?
For those unfamiliar, Gianmarco Tamberi, is an Italian high jumper, the current Olympic champion (2020), European outdoor champion (2024), and World outdoor champion (2023).
Tamberi was born in Civitanova Marche, Italy on June 1, 1992 to Marco Tamberi and Sabrina Piastrellini. So far, the professional high-jumper has earned 19 caps for the Italian national team.
Standing at 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in), the 32-year-old won the 2021 Diamond League crown, becoming the first Italian to do so, and repeated this feat in 2022.
Until 2022, Tamberi was coached by his father, Marco Tamberi, who held the indoor Italian record in 1983 with a height of 2.28 meters. In 2015, Tamberi broke the Italian high jump record twice.
First with a jump of 2.34 meters in Cologne, and then with a 2.37-meter jump in Eberstadt, where he finished second behind Derek Drouin. He later placed 8th at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing with a clearance of 2.25 meters.
Marital Status & Net Worth
Gianmarco Tamberi is married to his long-time girlfriend Chiara Bontempi. The two have been in a relationship since 2009 and eventually married in September 2022, at the Villa Imperiale, Pesaro.
Hailing from Ancona, Bontempi was born in 1995. According to various reports, the net worth of an Italian high-jumper is around $1-$5 million.