Shelby McEuen is an Olympic medalist — call her greedy or call her competitive.
The 28-year-old American defended his decision to compete in a jump-off with New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr in the men’s high jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday rather than share the gold medal.
“If it was meant to be, it would have been,” McEwen, wearing his silver medal, told reporters after the event. Press conference. “I’m grateful that Hamish came to me and accepted the jump-off, which I accepted and was all for.”
McEwan and Kerr cleared 2.36 metres, setting off a jump-off between the two Olympians vying for the top spot on the podium.
If two or more athletes finish at the same height in the men’s high jump, they will start the jump-off one height higher than the height they cleared.
Both athletes failed at 2.38 metres and 2.36 metres, after which the bar was lowered to 2.34 metres.
They had failed 11 consecutive jumps before Kerr’s 2.34 metre jump gave the ‘Flying Kiwis’ their first Olympic gold medal.
“I mean, he won gold and I won silver. At the end of the day, like he said, this is a sport. I’m representing my country just as he’s representing his country. I’m representing my family just as he’s representing his family,” McEwen said.
“At the end of the day, we all want to be champions, so the only respectful thing to do is to leave one champion behind.”
McEwen was adamant that it was a mutual decision to compete in the jump-off.
“That was the first thing he said, and I agreed to it,” McEuen said. According to the Washington Post“At one point, I got kind of tired. Sure, I may have shared that with him. But I came to terms with it and it all worked out.”
Now, McEuen is focused on winning a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I’m going to get the silver medal, do it again, believe in my team, believe in my doctors, believe in my training and get better,” McEuen said.
Heading into the final day of the Paris Olympics on Sunday, China leads the United States in the gold medal count, 39-38. If McEwan and Carr agree to share the prestigious medal, the two countries will be tied.
The jump-off decision sparked online debate over whether McEwan made the right choice.
“Very interesting. Fair play from both sides.” X user commented.
“That’s the rivalry between them,” said another.
“Shelby was stupid and missed out on the gold medal…”
“They should have shared the gold like in the last Olympics!” a fourth added.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, who won bronze on Saturday, said a certain amount of hunger is required in the jump-off and praised the efforts of the competitors.
At the 2020 Olympics, Barshim famously shared the gold medal with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi after both high jumpers declined to take part in the jump-off.
“We’re sportsmen and we’re very greedy and that’s just how it is. We’re all champions,” Barshim said. “If you’re a champion, you have to be the best.”
“Everybody wants to be the best and we’re all hungry. That’s the mentality, the spirit you have to have,” he added.
