Who was the American athlete who refused to ‘share’ the gold?

An ‘overconfidence’ Shelby McEwen America can be ended Olympics 2024 is behind China in the medal list. He got a chance to share the gold with the New Zealander in the high jump event. Hamish KerrBut declined and lost in a tiebreaker. The silver was his first Olympic record and his third of international significance.

The American has collected a series of university and national titles and, as a result, has become a legendary figure in the country’s athletics. He was at Tokyo 2020, in the high jump, when he qualified for the final, but finished 12th with a best mark of 2.27m – this edition saw Qatari Mudas Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi again. Scenario with a different ending.

On that occasion, the two best runners were asked by the judge what they would do if they drew a distance of 2.37m. Parshim brought up the idea of ​​sharing the gold, which Tamberi immediately accepted, celebrating much with his rival and teammate in the race.

However, McEwen wanted to challenge Kerr as they were 2.36m. The title was decided in a sort of ‘golden goal’ to break the tie, in which whoever reached the lowest height first (in this case – 2.34 m) would win. The New Zealander won, while the American dropped the bat, deciding the final result.

McEwen tried to beat the No. 1 in the game: confidence or arrogance?

Despite missing out on gold, the 28-year-old McEwen looked to make her first Olympic medal more desirable. Some may consider that arrogant, but others may praise him for competing until he couldn’t compete and his bravery for trying to beat Kerr, the leader of the world high jump rankings.

The silver is the third world medal for the American, who was runner-up in the high jump at the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championships in March, and was 6th in the Games winner category and 142nd overall in athletics at the Xiamen Stage of the 2024 Diamond League.

His leap of 2.36m in the jump-off was his career best and the second best in the sport in 2024, behind Tampere’s 2.37m at the European Athletics Championships.