Although Anthony Ammirati did not win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he became an overnight internet sensation after his “big bump” got in the way of his success.
The French pole vaulter was competing in the Summer Games on August 3 when he knocked over a crossbar in the semifinals that had become caught on his penis.
Although the Olympic debutant was “disappointed” by the mishap and his elimination, fans were keen to know more about him.
At the age of 12 he started pole vaulting
Ammirati’s hobby, which turned into a career, began when he was a teenager and saw a girl practicing the sport.
“I started pole vaulting when I was 12 because a girl from my club was doing it. I saw her jumping and I really wanted to try it,” he said in an interview with Olympics.com.
It didn’t take long for him to become addicted to the thrill.
“What I like most about this discipline is the adrenaline,” he continued. “You never get bored during training. Gymnastics, jumping, weight lifting, running. We don’t just focus on technical pole vaulting. I enjoy the variety.”
He is a reserve police officer
When he is not on duty, Ammirati works as a reserve police officer with the French National Police.
“I have always loved the police, I have many close friends who work in this sector,” he told French news channel Police Nationale in February 2024. “I like it when order is respected and I can help others.”
He has been serving as a civil servant since 2023.
He lives in Clermont-Ferrand
In 2021, Ammirati moved to the French city of Clermont-Ferrand for pole vault training. He later joined Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie’s Envol Club in 2023.
Speaking to French news channel La Montagne in February 2023, he explained, according to Us Weekly, that his mentor Gérard Vialette urged him to move to Clermont-Ferrand and train with former Olympian Philippe d’Encausse.
“I was lucky to have an excellent mentor, Gérard Vialette, who once told me: ‘Listen, Anthony, I can’t teach you anything more. You have to go to the best; there is no one better than Philippe d’Encausse,'” he explained.
He has the heart of a philanthropist
The athlete has notably taken the time to give back to his community and returned to his former school in April 2023 to encourage students to take up sports.
According to Ammirati’s Instagram, he returned to his old stomping ground for a week to help aspiring pole vaulters with their performance and technique.
“I hope the passion for sport and why not also the ambition to reach the top!” he wrote under a series of snapshots.
He is U20 World Champion
Although Ammirati did not take home an Olympic gold, he already has several medals from other pole vault competitions.
The officer won the title of U20 European Champion 2021 and U20 World Champion 2022.
He also finished fifth at the 2023 U23 European Championships.
He was offered to appear on an adult website
Since his infamous performance at the Olympics, Ammirati has reportedly been offered $250,000 to appear on an adult website, according to TMZ.
He received an offer letter from Daryn Parker, CamSoda’s vice president, which reportedly said, “If it were up to me, I would reward you for what everyone else has seen: your below-the-belt talent.”
“As a lover of crotch-focused activities,” the offer letter continued, “I would like to offer you up to $250,000 in exchange for a 60-minute webcam show in which you show off your assets, minus the crossbar, of course.”
