Picture from NBC/Peacock via X (@pony_official)
Picture this: Anthony Ammirati, a French pole vaulter, puts years of blood, sweat, and tears into his pole vaulting craft when, finally, he's standing on the biggest stage in the world - the Olympics. I mean, the guy's got skills, no doubt. But then, boom! The craziest thing happens. In a heartbreaking moment, Anthony Ammirati is sailing over the pole in an outfit that kind of looks like one of Timoteo’s men’s singlets. As he's descending, his big bulge gets caught and topples the bar.
The cameras catch him at a perfect angle of his pole vaulting– with his big bulge pressing against the poll, which can be seen in this TikTok. It's unfortunate for him, and all the hard work he put into pole vaulting since that incident ended up eliminating him. But the internet went absolutely nuts. This athlete became a sensation and a household name for his big bulge overnight!
But the story gets even wilder. Recently the porn company, CamSoda, offered Anthony Ammirati $250,000 to show off his now-notorious 'big bulge' in a 60-minute webcam show. Yes, you heard that right! From a pole vaulting athlete focused on medals to becoming a meme overnight and now, a potential model in an explicit webcam video.
CamSoda's VP, Daryn Parker, made the proposition. In his letter to Anthony Ammirati, he stated: "If it was up to me, I'd award you for what everyone else saw, your talent below the belt. As a lover of crotch-centric activities, I'd love to offer you up to $250,000 in exchange for a 60-minute webcam show, in which you show off your goods, minus the crossbar, of course."
Anthony Ammirati has yet to respond to CamSoda's offer to show off his big bulge. Still, I saw that he commented on the incident, telling the French Athletics Federation, "It's a big disappointment. I'm disappointed because I didn't miss anything on the third try at 5.70 m. The conditions were good. It's the first time that I attacked a competition without any stress. As I was a total outsider, I had only one objective: to play with the public. I was almost there."
CamSoda's History with Viral Moments
What's interesting, though, is that this isn't the first time CamSoda has made an offer like this. According to the New York Post, last year, they offered $25,000 to Morgan Osman, an Instagram model and former reality TV star, right after she was caught on camera having a meltdown on a plane. They often try to grab attention by linking themselves to trending stories.
If Anthony Ammirati accepts the offer, it wouldn't be the only time an Olympian has turned to NSFW opportunities. I heard about a New Zealand rower, Robbie Manson, who started an OnlyFans. I read on E! News that he started the OnlyFans to make money while pursuing his athletic dreams. I don't want to contribute to a culture of exploitation. On the other hand, I would help him fulfill his dreams if I checked out his OnlyFans.
This whole trend of making money off viral moments makes you think about what we value in our culture. Are we okay with entertainment that makes a spectacle of people's private lives or embarrassing moments? It's a big question about the kind of stuff we find entertaining and what that says about us.
My Final Thoughts
I can't even believe that happened to Anthony Ammirati—it's pretty wild. You have to feel for him, though. Can you imagine it? You're on the world's biggest stage, trying to showcase years of dedication, and it all gets foiled by your big bulge. It's usually not something I hear many men complaining about, but for an athlete like that to lose his pole vaulting shot over it… Well, it's definitely unfortunate.
He went from an Olympic hopeful to a pole vaulting internet meme. On one hand, it's insane exposure—free publicity, you might say. But on the other, it's a complete invasion of privacy. No one seems to be talking much about his athletic talents—we all seem to be focused on his physical endowments and big bulge. And now, to top it all off, he's got this crazy offer to cash in on his pole vaulting misfortune.
It's a real dilemma. Does Anthony Ammirati embrace the absurdity and turn his big bulge into a money-making venture? Or does he try to move on and rebuild his pole vaulting? It's a tough call. I'll be interested to see what he decides and how this all plays out. My guess is that he doesn't respond to the offer, and eventually, the news moves on to another story. But we'll see. I know I'll be watching to find out if he accepts the offer!
