Italy flag bearer apologizes to wife after losing wedding ring during Olympic ceremony

Italy's high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, apologized to his wife for losing his marriage ring during Paris Olympics.

During the rainy opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, the Italian athlete lost his wedding ring in the Seine River.

"I’m sorry my love, I’m really, really sorry," Tamberi wrote in an open letter of apology posted on Instagram to his wife of two years, Chiara Bontempi.

"Too much water, too many kilograms lost over the last few months, and maybe the uncontrollable enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three things," added Tamberi, who shared flag-bearing duties for Italy with fencer Arianna Errigo during the ceremony, which featured boats parading athletes instead of the usual stadium procession.

Tamberi, along with Errigo, had the honor of flying to Paris on the presidential plane with Mattarella, which he called "the most emotional flight of my life," playing on words with his jumping "flights."

Tamberi felt the ring sliding off his finger and saw it drop as Italy cruised down the Seine on a boat with Israel and Jamaica.

"I followed it until I saw it bounce inside the boat," he said. "But the rebound went in the wrong direction unfortunately. … But if it had to happen, if I really had to lose this ring, I couldn’t imagine a better place. It will remain forever on the riverbed in the City of Love."

Tamberi is favored to win another gold when the men’s high jump competition starts on Aug. 7.

Paris glittered in the rain during the Olympic opening ceremony, showcasing the city's charm. However, some residents of a Paris neighborhood chose to pass on the grand festivities of the Opening Ceremony.

“Hopefully this is a sign that I’ll come home with an even bigger gold medal,” Tamberi said.