Gianmarco Tamberi is one of the pre-favourites to take the Olympic Games gold in high jump, which he shared with the Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim three years ago.
But now it is unclear whether the Italian will even be able to start.
On his Instagram, he published pictures from inside an ambulance on Saturday, and writes that he is on his way to the emergency room. This after being struck by kidney colic.
"The pain I felt this morning, no matter how strong it is, is nothing compared to the pain I feel inside", he writes and continues:
"I have just been driven to the emergency room after vomiting blood twice. Now I will take more tests to see what happens, I will update you as soon as I know what happens."
And just a moment later, the Italian gave a message.
"I will be there", he wrote together with a picture of himself.
Whether the Italian will participate or not is still unclear.
The high jump final begins at 19.00 on Saturday.
