Italian high-jumper inspires viewers with half-beard during Athletics coverage

Gianmarco Tamberi showed off the bizarre facial hair at the Indoor European Athletics Championships - drawing plaudits from fellow sports personalities...

This competition is now closed

By Radio Times Staff

Published: Monday, 9th March 2015 at 6:59 am

Viewers watching the European Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday afternoon saw an Italian high-jumper reach the heights of hipster fashion, even if he didn’t perform quite as well in the competition itself.

Gianmarco Tamberi impressed with his now trademark half beard/half clean-shaven look, with one sports presenter even suggesting the facial hair alone should qualify him for the 2015 Sports Personality of the Year award.

Genius klaxon!!! In my book, Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi is already Sports Personality Of The Year pic.twitter.com/YzTm4oSllp

— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) March 8, 2015

Other sports personalities were also inspired by Tamberi’s example…

"@jamiefox1: I've been inspired by Gianmarco Tamberi! https://t.co/LQK4IJHwA5 ???????? http://t.co/3E8rUgxBKv" lol

— Katharine Merry (@KatharineMerry) March 8, 2015

…while some commentators suggested another award was in order…

This athlete just won the prize for most hipster beard ever: http://t.co/9Et5RoZXxw pic.twitter.com/CHXcDw2Hvo

— DailyEdge (@dailyedge) March 8, 2015

Sadly for Tamberi, his jumping wasn’t quite as impressive as his beard on the day, leaving him in seventh place in the competition – but a winner in the eyes of hipsters everywhere…