Olympian Gianmarco Tamberi Apologizes to Wife After Losing Wedding Ring During Opening Ceremony
Give Gianmarco Tamberi a gold medal for this apology of Olympic proportions.
After the Italian high jumper lost his wedding ring in Paris' River Seine July 26 while serving as one of his country's flag bearers on a boat during the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, he confessed all on social media to make amends with his wife.
"I'm sorry, my love, I'm so sorry," the Olympian wrote in Italian on Instagram in a post shared on both his and spouse Chiara Bontempi Tamberi's pages. "Too much water, too many kilos lost in the last few months or maybe the irrepressible enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three things, the fact remains that I felt it slip away."
The 32-year-old, who shared his Olympic flag-bearer duties with Arianna Errigo, a fencer, said he saw the ring "fly" and "followed it with my gaze until I saw it bounce inside the boat," which gave him hope.
But alas, "the bounce was unfortunately in the wrong direction and floating more than a thousand times in the air," he said, adding, "I saw it dive into the water as if that was the only place where it wanted to be."
Gianmarco, who included in his post pics of himself and his wife at their 2022 wedding and of their bands, as well as an image of Elijah Wood's Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring photoshopped with his face, added that if this "really had to happen," he "couldn't imagine a better place."
"It will remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love, flown away while I was trying to raise the Italian tricolor as high as possible during the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world," continued the athlete. "If I had to invent an excuse I would never have been so imaginative."
Gianmarco, a 2020 Olympics gold medalist, also took it a step further to make a unique proposal to his wife. "If you want, we will also throw yours into that river so that they will be together forever and we will have one more excuse to, as you always asked me, renew our vows and get married again."
He continued, "I love you my love. May it be a good omen to return home with an even bigger gold!!!"
As for how his wife responded, in addition to posting his message on her own Instagram, she also wrote in an emotional comment, "Only you can turn something like this into something romantic," including two crying face emojis and a heart.
Gianmarco reposted her comment on his Instagram Stories, adding, "100 pt exp."
Read on to see photos from the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony...
The Eiffel Tower and Opening Ceremony stands are illuminated with color in honor of the French flag.
The Olympic Cauldron takes flight after being lit at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Céline Dion closes out the show with a powerful performance atop the Eiffel Tower.
The singer beautifully belted out "Hymne A L'Amour" during her return to the stage.
Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Rafael Nadal light up the night with the Olympic torch.
French soccer star Zinedine Zidane passes the Olympic torch to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.
The Eiffel Tower lights up the night.
Athletes from around the world gather in front of the Eiffel Tower for Opening Ceremony.
The mystery horse rider carries the Olympic flag to the Place du Trocadero.
The Parade of Nations travel along the Seine river.
Flags from countries competing in the Olympics fly high.
Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet perform "Imagine" from a float on the Seine.
The Refugee Olympic Team—which is made up of 37 athletes representing millions worldwide who have been forcibly displaced—share a loving message.
Musicians at the Opening Ceremony keep dry in their rain ponchos.
The Olympic flag is carried down the Seine on a galloping metal horse.
Team Australia is all-smiles as their boat passes by the Eiffel Tower.
The masked torchbearer runs along the Musee d'Orsay during the Opening Ceremony.
Despite the wet weather, Team Spain marches forward to the Place du Trocadero.
Team Italy's flag bearers Arianna Errigo and Gianmarco Tamberi snap a selfie together.
The Eiffel Tower is decorated with the Olympic rings.
Swedish athletes greet the crowd during the Parade of Nations.
Team Liberia captures all the sights and sounds from their boat.
The Eiffel Tower awaits the arrival of the world's athletes.
Jordan's Rama Abo-Alrub and Saleh Elsharabaty bear their country's flag together.
The Bahamian flag waves atop the country's boat on the Seine river.
Switzerland is ready to bring the heat to this summer's Games.
Team USA makes their debut on the Seine.
But that didn't stop these rooftop dancers from turning out a spectacular performance.
Yet the Cabo Verde Olympic team didn't let it dim their joy.
Reproductions of some of the most famous paintings from Paris' Louvre Museum decorate the River Seine.
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.