Katie Moon, Nina Kennedy agree to share pole-vaulting gold in 2023 World Athletics Championship
Women's pole vault joint gold medallist USA's Katie Moon (L) and Australia's Nina Kennedy pose for portraits during a studio photo session on the sidelines of the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 24 (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s the purest form of sportsmanship and friendship.
Pole vaulters Katie Moon (U.S.) and Nina Kennedy (Australia) tied for gold on Wednesday at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
But instead of jumping again for a tiebreaker, the long-time friends decided to share the gold medal.
FILE - Athletics: World Championships, women's pole vault, final, at the National Athletics Center. Nina Kennedy (l, Australia) and Katie Moon (USA) cheer after the competition. (Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
"We’ve been friends for so long," Kennedy said. "So, super special."
"When it became obvious that only Nina and I were still jumping, the show had just started. I think we both motivated each other. When she had a good attempt, I also wanted to have it," Moon said, according to Reuters.
Gold medalists Katie Moon of Team United States and Nina Kennedy of Team Australia celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's Pole Vault during day six of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Ce (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
"It was tiring but worth the effort. What an amazing night. I hope everyone enjoyed that one. We did," Moon added.
Finland’s Wilma Murto tied her season’s best and took the bronze, according to the International Olympic Committee website.
Gold medalists Katie Moon of Team United States, Nina Kennedy of Team Australia and bronze medalist Wilma Murto of Team Finland pose for a photo on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's Pole Vault during day six of the World Athletics (Stephen Pond/Getty Images for World Athletics)
Moon and Kennedy’s shared gold is reminiscent of a similar dual gold win during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi were both competing in the high jump final three years ago and got the same score.
FILE - Joint gold medalists Mutaz Essa Barshim of Team Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Team Italy celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's High Jump on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 02, 202 (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
And, just like Moon and Kennedy, instead of going into a grueling jump-off to break the tie, they decided to share gold – a win-win.
FILE - Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim (L) and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi hugh eacho other as they compete in the men's high jump final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 22, 2023. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
"I still can’t believe it happened," Tamberi said back in 2020. "Sharing with a friend is even more beautiful. ... It was just magical."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.