French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati has broken his silence following a viral incident that occurred during his Olympic qualifying performance at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Over the weekend, the 21-year-old athlete’s attempt to qualify for the final round took an unexpected turn when his “bulge” hit the bar, dislodging it completely. But it was Ammirati’s pesky package that seemingly stole the show, capturing the attention of online spectators.

“It’s a big disappointment,” Ammirati told the French Athletics Federation.

He said: “I was at 100% physically, but I missed a little bit of the pole. The conditions were good. It was the first time that I attacked the competition with no stress. Because I was a total outsider, I only had one objective: to play with the public. I was almost there.”

Despite the setback, Ammirati’s viral moment has generated a significant buzz online, with many spectators fixating on a rather a prominent feature of the athlete’s attire. But the young Frenchman remained focused on his performance, acknowledging the disappointment of falling short of his Olympic dreams.

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The young Frenchman’s bulge apparently caused him to knock down the pole, leading to a failed attempt that sparked a flurry of memes and jokes online.

Experts suggest that an ergonomic cup or similar protective gear could have prevented the unfortunate incident, allowing Ammirati to concentrate solely on his athletic prowess.