Monaco: Qatar's high jump champion Mutaz Barshim shared the Inspiration Award with fellow Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy at the World Athletics Awards 2021 ceremony held Wednesday.

Barshim and Tamberi shared the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics when, after both finished on 2.37 metres, the Qatari athlete asked officials: “Can we have two golds?” These two became one of the biggest talking points of the Olympic Games , mainly for the act of respect and sportsmanship between two friends.

Barshim said: “I hope to inspire more people to love our sport and maybe share a gold one day!” Tamberi added: “It is just crazy if I think about this story. Thank you very much for this trophy. I now call Mutaz like five times a week because I need to speak with him. I feel that now we are not just friends, we are really like blood brothers.”

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee