Italy flag bearer Gianmarco Tamberi loses WEDDING RING in River Seine during Paris Olympics opening ceremony

AN ITALIAN flag bearer lost his WEDDING RING in the River Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony on Friday night.

Reigning Olympic high-jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi’s marital band slipped off during the parade, which was hit with heavy rain.

Tamberi posted this picture based on Lord of the Rings’s character Frodo after losing his wedding band in the River Seine

Rex

Tamberi has since apologised to his wife[/caption]

Tamberi was leading the pack as a flag bearer on the Italian boat, alongside fencing great Arianna Errigo.

But the 32-year-old was devastated to see his beloved wedding ring fall off his finger and sink beneath the murky river.

So much so that the Athletics star issued a grovelling apology to his wife Chiara Bontempi Tamberi on Saturday.

He posted a picture of himself photoshopped on to an image of Frodo from Lord of the Rings on Instagram and wrote: “I’m sorry my love. 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 my ring slip away, I saw it fly.

“I followed it with my gaze until I saw it bounce inside the boat.”

Tamberi said that his gold ring then bounced into the Seine in what he described as “a few moments that lasted forever.”

He added: “But if it really had to happen, if I really had to lose it, I couldn’t imagine a better place. It will remain forever in the riverbed of the City of Love.”

OLYMPICS FREE BETS – SIGN UP OFFERS AND DEAL FOR PARIS 2024

Tamberi believes the mishap is an excuse to renew his vows and get married again, and perhaps serves as an impetus to earn more Olympic hardware.

He ended his touching post with: “May it be a good omen to return home with an even bigger gold!”

The Italian star will look to defend his title on August 7 inside the iconic and newly transformed Stade de France.

Tamberi made history in Tokyo 2020 when he and Qatari athlete Mutaz Barshim shared gold in the men’s high-jump.

The pair warmed the hearts of viewers after they learned that they could both be crowned champions.

In extraordinary scenes, both stars immediately embraced each other in excitement following their record-breaking feat.

Tamberi also goes into Paris as world and European champion.

Marc Aspland - The Times

Tamberi shared gold with Mutaz Barshim at Tokyo 2020[/caption]