Pole Vaulter Anthony Ammirati Reacts to Going Viral for Unintended “Crotch Interference” at 2024 Paris Olympics
French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati, a first-time Olympian at the 2024 Paris Olympics, recently went viral for a rather unexpected reason. The 21-year-old athlete found himself in the spotlight not for his athletic prowess, but for an unfortunate incident where his crotch appeared to interfere with his jump during the competition.
The incident occurred on August 3 during the pole vault heat, when Ammirati’s bulge seemingly clipped the crossbar as he attempted his jump. The moment was captured on camera and quickly spread across social media, leading to a wave of humorous and, at times, sympathetic reactions. However, as it turns out, the cause of his failed attempt had nothing to do with his “package.” Instead, it was his shins and knees that first hit the bar, leading to his eventual 12th-place finish.
Ammirati, who initially did not address the viral moment, eventually took to TikTok to share his thoughts. In a video posted from the Olympic Village, the young athlete used the “Sad Spongebob Music” soundtrack to set the tone as he stared off into space while eating lunch. Over the video, he wrote in French, “POV: tu fais plus de buzz pour ton paquet que pour tes perfs,” which translates to, “POV: You create more buzz for your package than your performances.”
In the caption, Ammirati further expressed his mixed feelings about the situation, writing, “Je sais pas trop si je dois le prendre bien ou pas du coup ?” meaning, “I don’t really know if I should take it well or not?”
The post quickly garnered attention, with fans flooding the comments section to join in on the joke. Many users playfully remarked, “A win is a win,” while others praised him with comments like, “It’s a HUGE accomplishment.” Some even suggested that Calvin Klein should offer Ammirati an advertising campaign, given the unexpected exposure.
Despite the viral fame and the lighthearted nature of the online reactions, Ammirati’s focus remained on his performance. In a statement released by the French Athletics Federation shortly after the event, Ammirati expressed his disappointment. “It’s a big disappointment,” he said. “The conditions were good. It’s the first time I’ve started a competition without any stress. As I was a total outsider, I only had one goal: to play with the audience. I was almost there.”
In a subsequent Instagram post shared with French sports academy Envol, Ammirati reiterated his frustration with the outcome. While the young athlete may not have secured a medal in his home country, his dedication to the sport was evident in his comments.
As Ammirati’s viral moment continued to circulate online, it caught the attention of an unexpected suitor—adult entertainment company CamSoda. The company, known for its webcam services, saw potential in Ammirati’s newfound fame and offered him a lucrative $250,000 deal for a 60-minute cam show. In a letter obtained by Us Weekly, CamSoda Vice President Daryn Parker extended the offer, encouraging Ammirati to “show off his ‘goods'” in exchange for the big payday.
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“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 offer read. “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.”
While Ammirati has yet to respond to the CamSoda offer, the situation highlights the unpredictable nature of viral fame and its potential to lead to unexpected opportunities. For now, Ammirati seems focused on his athletic career, taking the buzz in stride and keeping his sights set on future competitions.
Despite the unintended viral moment, Anthony Ammirati remains an athlete dedicated to his craft, and his experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics will undoubtedly be a memorable one—for reasons both on and off the field.
