CNN
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In a heartwarming moment, Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy agreed to share the pole vault gold medal at the Athletics World Championships Wednesday.

After a trying competition in Budapest, Hungary, Moon and Kennedy cleared the bar at 4.90m in the final, but failed on all three of their attempts at 4.95m.

With so little separating the two of them, they agreed to share their spot at the top of the leaderboard. podiumthus becoming the first joint gold medalists in the history of the World Championships.

Australia’s Kennedy broke down in tears as the gold medal was secured, with both men hugging each other in celebration. She then explained how they made the decision to share the glory and become joint gold medalists.

“I didn’t think she would want to share it, I thought maybe we should have kept jumping,” Kennedy told reporters after the finale. “But, you know, I kind of looked at her and was like, ‘Hey, girl, maybe you want to share this?’

“And the relief on his face – and you could see it on my face – and it was mutual. And yes, absolutely amazing to share a medal with Katie Moon. You know, we’ve been friends for so long, so it’s super special.

This moment had similarities to that of Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi. agreed to share the gold medal in the high jump at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Images of Tamberi and Barshim celebrating happily in a largely empty stadium due to Covid-19 restrictions have become famous for their sportsmanship and unity.

And Moon and Kennedy joined their high jump counterparts with similar scenes, with Moon – who was defending champion – winning her second world title and Kennedy setting an Australian national record with her latest jump.

“I’m at a point where I gave it my all,” said the 32-year-old American Olympic and world champion. “We went out and we both did pretty much the same thing and it felt right. We both won today, so it was the right decision! »

Finland’s Wilma Murto won bronze after reaching a season-high 4.80m in the final.