* Adult Website Offers $250,000 for Viral Moment
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati vaulted into the limelight for reasons other than his athletic talent. Although he didn’t secure a medal, his 15 minutes of fame came with a rather unexpected twist.
Ammirati, 21, was vying for a spot in the men’s pole vault final, aiming to clear 5.70 meters. But during his third attempt, he experienced an unfortunate and highly memorable mishap. As he soared towards the bar, his manhood made an unintended contact with it, causing a failed vault. The replay left broadcasters and viewers with wide eyes and dropped jaws.
Social media went into overdrive with cheeky comments. One user humorously remarked, “He brought that baguette to the games,” while another quipped, “Well, you win some, you lose some.”
Even ongoing debates about transgender athletes found a way into the discussion, with one user saying, “I get this happening to a male athlete. When it happens to a ‘female’ athlete, eyebrows get raised.”
Ammirati’s Instagram following skyrocketed from 8,400 to over 32,000 almost overnight. Despite the hilarity, he managed a solid 5.60-meter vault, finishing 15th overall.
The judges, struggling to maintain their composure, exchanged amused glances as Ammirati landed safely in the pit. His viral mishap set a new bar, both literally and figuratively, in pole vaulting humor.
Embracing the spotlight, Ammirati joked, “Having exceptional talent sometimes comes with unique challenges. At least I made pole vaulting a lot more entertaining!”
In a surprising twist, an adult film website offered Ammirati $250,000 for an hour-long webcam show after his viral moment. CamSoda’s Vice President, Daryn Parker, stated, “We’re always on the lookout for top-tier talent that delivers unique content. Anthony’s performance gave us a chance to celebrate his physical stature and offer something different than the usual commentary.”
Parker added, “We believe showcasing Anthony’s bulge could inspire others to stand tall and flaunt their own. If Anthony is interested, we’d be thrilled to collaborate on his CamSoda debut and help him regain confidence post-Olympics.”
