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This Olympic pole vaulter's own huge pole got in the way—and cost him a medal

This Olympic pole vaulter's own huge pole got in the way—and cost him a medal

Anthony Ammirati at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Kevin Voigt/Getty Images

Videos of the French pole vaulter at the 2024 Olympics are going viral, and his social media following is skyrocketing!

simbernardo

Pole 4 pole?

On Saturday, August 3, French athlete Anthony Ammirati didn't move past the qualification round in the men's pole vault competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games due to his own big pole — and, yes, we mean that literally.

In videos widely circulated on social media, the 21-year-old pole vaulter is seen trying to clear a 5.70m bar. As he's falling back to the ground, however, Ammirati's very noticeable bulge in his spandex suit catches the bar and knocks it all the way down.

The "pole on pole" moment is clearly seen in screenshots of this viral video.

Anthony Ammirati competing in the men's pole vault qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympics

NBC/Peacock via X (@PONY_Official)

@Glodyswotcher wrote in an X post:

"Anthony Ammirati failed the bar and the commentators are clearly having a hard time acknowledging what happened [laughing emoji]. Help, I'm dying."

X user @PONY_Official wrote:

"When you're about to win an Olympic medal but your massive d*ck gets in the way while the whole world watches in slow motion."

@pauloMDtweets wrote in another X post:

"French athlete Anthony Ammirati failed the 5.70 height pole vault because of his asset."

Ammirati finished the men's pole vault qualification round in 15th place overall. While this means that he didn't qualify for the finals at Paris 2024, it's still a wonderful accomplishment to be among the 15 best athletes in the world for the sport. Moreover, this unfortunate fumble is turning Ammirati into one of the biggest viral sensations of the 2024 Olympic Games.

According to data from Social Blade, Ammirati started this Saturday, August 3 with 6,355 followers on Instagram.

As of this writing, the French pole vaulter has already surpassed 21,600 followers — and his IG following keeps growing by the hour!

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Bernardo Sim

Deputy Editor

Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out, as well as a writer and content creator. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida. You can follow him on Instagram at @bernardosim.

Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out, as well as a writer and content creator. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida. You can follow him on Instagram at @bernardosim.