Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi has publicly apologized to his wife after losing his wedding ring during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The world champion, 32, was proudly waving Italy’s flag as the athletes’ boat glided along the River Seine when his ring unexpectedly slipped off his finger.
In a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to his wife, Chiara Bontempi Tamberi, he expressed, “I’m sorry my love, I’m so sorry.” Tamberi attributed the unfortunate incident to “losing too many kilos” and “irrepressible enthusiasm.”
Reflecting on the mishap, he remarked, “If it had to happen, if I had to lose this ring, I couldn’t imagine a better place.” He humorously noted that the ring would now “remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love.” Describing the incident as “poetic,” he playfully suggested that they might throw Chiara’s ring into the river as well. “[Then] they will be together forever and we will have one more excuse to renew our vows and marry again,” he added.
Chiara responded to his post with warmth, writing, “Only you could turn this into something romantic.” The couple has been married since September 2022.
Tamberi lost the ring while sharing the spotlight with three-time Olympic medalist Arianna Errigo, during which it bounced off the boat and vanished into the river. He described the moment as “a few moments that lasted forever.”
Previously, Tamberi garnered attention at the Tokyo 2020 Games for sharing the high jump gold medal with Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim after both opted not to attempt a higher jump. He is also known for his signature half-shaven beard, a look he has maintained since 2011.
