Sam Kendricks sparks concerns as he appears covered in blood during pole vault final at Paris Olympics

PARIS, FRANCE: Team USA's Sam Kendricks sparked concerns as he appeared covered in blood during the pole vault finals of the Paris Olympics on Monday, August 5.

A BBC coverage caught the pole vaulter with blood smeared on his arm and shoulder, according to The Sun.

After Keely Hodgkinson's win in the women's 800m final, the broadcast returned to the pole vault final as Kendricks was preparing for his third attempt at 6.00m. The commentators pointed out the blood on his body as he failed to succeed in his attempt to win the gold medal.

What caused Sam Kendricks' arm and shoulder to be covered in blood?

The 31-year-old later explained that he punctured his hand on his spikes. Rather than worrying much about the cut, the athlete wiped it on his body and carried on. 

"I've got very sharp spikes," Kendricks told reporters. 

He further noted, "As I was really committing to first jump at six meters (19 feet, 6 1/4 inches), I punctured my hand three times, and it wouldn't stop bleeding," adding, "And rather than wipe it on my nice uniform, I had to wipe it on my arm. I tried not to get any blood on Old Glory for no good purpose."

The pole vaulter who won a bronze in his debut Olympics, the 2016 Rio Games, settled for silver after failing to cross 6.00m during his third attempt.

He returned to the Paris Olympics after the pandemic shattered his medal dreams at the 2021 Tokyo Games as he tested positive for Covid-19 in Japan. 

Sweden's Armand "Mondo" Duplantis won the gold and broke his own pole vault world record by clearing 6.25m. Earlier, he set the mark of 6.24m in the Xiamen Diamond League in April. 

Greece's Emmanouil Karalis secured the bronze medal. 

Internet shocked as Sam Kendricks appears covered in blood during pole vault final at Paris Olympics

Viewers took to social media to voice their concerns after witnessing Sam Kendricks' bloodied arm and shoulder during the pole vault final. 

"Why is Sam Kendricks covered in blood??" asked one, and another said, "Sam Kendricks bagging #Silver while being covered with his own blood. Incredible athlete!"

"American pole vaulter doing his last vault with blood all over his arm is pretty hardcore," noted a person. Someone else wrote, "Don't love the american pole vaulter having blood all over himself from burst blisters on his hands or something??????????"

"Sam Kendricks snagged silver in pole vault at the Paris Olympics, proving that even a punctured hand can't keep a determined vaulter down! Who knew blood, sweat, and spikes could lead to glory?" expressed an individual. 

One more wrote, "Sam kendricks!!! officially silver and also smeared in his own blood !!!" 

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