French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s Olympic journey took an unexpected turn during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. What could have been a moment of triumph turned into a viral sensation, not for his athletic prowess but for a wardrobe malfunction that may have cost him the gold medal.

On Saturday, August 3, during his pole vault heat, Ammirati’s bulge clipped the crossbar, causing him to miss a crucial vault. The incident quickly spread across social media, where viewers expressed a mix of amazement and disappointment. The 21-year-old athlete’s misfortune didn’t go unnoticed by everyone, however. Adult entertainment company CamSoda saw an opportunity and offered Ammirati a lucrative deal: $250,000 for a 60-minute cam show.

In a letter obtained by Us Weekly, CamSoda Vice President Daryn Parker extended the offer to Ammirati, encouraging him to embrace the attention. “Although you didn’t bring home the gold medal, you can still capture the gold from your fans via CamSoda – that has to count for something, right?” the letter reads. “Plus, you won’t have those restrictive compression shorts holding you back, so feel free to let it all out and show the world why you should have your own Olympic competition next time around.”

Reflecting on the incident, Ammirati expressed his disappointment. “The conditions were good,” he told the French Athletics Federation. “This is the first time that I attacked a competition without any stress.” He admitted that he missed some training, which might have contributed to the mishap. “I was almost there,” he lamented after his bulge knocked over the bar during his third attempt at the 5.70m target.

Ammirati finished with a combined score of 5.60, placing 12th in his heat and failing to qualify for the next round. Despite the viral attention on his wardrobe malfunction, it was his legs, not his bulge, that initially hit the bar and disqualified his attempt. This final attempt at 5.70m marked the end of his competition.

Though he missed out on a medal, Ammirati’s moment has secured a place in Olympic history. Social media users had a field day with the incident. “Not the worst thing in the World losing a Gold Medal in the #Olympics because you’re packing a French Baguette,” one person joked on X. Another added, “Lost the pole vault, won the Schlong Jump.”

Despite the unusual twist to his Olympic experience, Ammirati remains a sportsman at heart, viewing this as a learning experience and a moment of unexpected fame. Whether he will take CamSoda up on their offer remains to be seen, but for now, Anthony Ammirati has certainly made a memorable mark on the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Credit: US Weekly