Summary
Athletics (track and field) rulebooks all across the world provide for the same procedure to break ties for first place in a vertical jump. They do not have a means of enforcement; you can't make the tied jumpers jump. Jump offs were held at major championships for over a hundred years until the previous Olympics when both Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi agreed to share the gold medal at Barshim's suggestion. [1] Since then Nina Kennedy and Katie Moon also agreed to share the gold medal in the Women's Pole Vault at the 2023 World Championships. It has been a subject of discussion. Both Barshim and Tamberi return, Tamberi as seasonal world leader. #2 Hamish Kerr has been outspoken online that he will not be sharing a gold if it comes to that. Barshim won the 2022 World Championships ahead of Woo Sang-hyeok and Andriy Protsenko. Tamberi won in 2023 over JuVaughn Harrison and Barshim.
During the qualifying round, Barshim struggled with severe cramps. His friend in gold, Tamberi, rushed over to help massage the cramping calf. Protsenko couldn't get over a bar. Harrison topped out at 2.20 and didn't advance. It was so tight, two people who cleared 2.24m but had excessive misses did not advance. [2]
Hours before the final, Tamberi was taken to the Emergency Room, vomiting blood. [3] Heroically, he made it to the stadium and even managed to clear 2.27m but was not able to go higher. Six jumpers were able to get over 2.31m, Shelby McEwen and Barshim still had perfect rounds going. Kerr took three attempts to get over. At 2.34m, Stefano Sottile, Kerr and Barshim got over on their first attempts, putting Barshim in first place still with a perfect round going. McEwen jumped over the bar cleanly for a new personal best clearing it on his third attempt. Moving the bar to 2.36m, after Barshim and Sottile missed, McEwen flew over the bar on his first attempt, celebrating his second personal best of the competition in the pit. Moments later, Kerr also cleared it cleanly on his first attempt. No matter what Barshim and Sottile did at this height, McEwen and Kerr were tied with a first attempt clearance of the most recent height and two total misses in the competition. Barshim took one more attempt then passed for one remaining hero jump at the next height. Sottile took both of his remaining attempts and after missing the second was guaranteed fourth place. At 2.38m, Barshim missed his attempt leaving him with the bronze medal. McEwen and Kerr both missed all three of their attempts at what would be their personal bests. But they were still tied.
True to his online statement, Kerr wanted to keep going. There was going to be a jump off. The jumping order remained the same, McEwen jumping first and Kerr jumping last. The first step was to jump at the height they had just missed. Both missed again. So next they are to jump at the height they last made. Again both missed. So next they are to jump one height back, 2.34m. Both athletes were now on their 14th attempt of the competition. McEwen missed, then Kerr cleared. He leaped out of the pit and ran into the infield to celebrate his victory. [4] [5]
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