TEAM USA star Shelby McEwen left fans divided after turning down the opportunity to share high jump gold at the Paris Olympics.

McEwen ended up with a silver medal after agreeing to compete in a jumpoff with New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr, who walked away with gold.

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Shelby McEwen (right) agreed to a jump off with New Zealand high jumper Hamish KerrCredit: Getty

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The decision cost McEwen, who ended up with a silver medalCredit: Getty

But McEwen was proud of his decision to crown a single championCredit: Getty
The decision cost Team USA the opportunity to win the overall medal table outright with 41 golds.

In the end, the Americans tied with China on 40 golds and topped the medal table by securing more silver medals.

Per the rules, Kerr and McEwen could have agreed to both receive gold medals after they cleared 2.36 meters but failed to go any higher.

It was a situation which happened in Tokyo in 2021 when Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi memorably agreed to share gold.

But McEwen and Kerr decided to compete in a jumpoff to ensure a single champion, which the New Zealander eventually won with a jump of 2.34m.

“I have so much respect for what they did in Tokyo,” Kerr said.

“But I always thought that to add to the story and to be able to be given the chance to actually do the jump-off would be so amazing.

“I knew straight away that we were going to make history and we did that.

“I’m pretty sure Shelby was in the same mindset because we just looked at each other and it was pretty simple.

“We both just nodded and off we went.”

McEwan revealed he thought about the $25,000 he would collect from World Athletics as a joint champion – but decided to go ahead with the jumpoff.

McEwan told the Washington Post: “He said it first, and I agreed to it.

“At some point, I kind of got fatigued. I maybe would have shared it with him, for sure.

“But I agreed to it, and it was all good.

“At the end of the day, he wanted to jumpoff.

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McEwen secured a personal best during the Paris OlympicsCredit: Getty
“At that point, I wasn’t going to go back and forth with it and argue with him.

“He wanted to jumpoff, and I was all in for it.”

The 28-year-old American defended his decision, even though it cost USA another gold medal.

“If it was meant to be it would’ve been,” McEwen said at a press conference.

“Shout out to Hamish for coming up to me, accepting a jump off and I accepted it and I was all for it.”

The jumpoff proved a huge letdown, with both athletes missing 11 jumps in a row before Kerr emerged the victor.

Both athletes missed at 2.38m and 2.36m before the bar was lowered to 2.34m.

“I mean, hey, he got the gold and I got the silver. At the end of the day, like he said it’s a sport,” McEwen added.

“I mean I represent my country, just like he’s representing his. I’m representing my family just like he’s representing his,.

“At the end of the day we all want to be champions and the only respectful thing to do is walk away with one champion.”

McEwen remains proud of his efforts, which included a personal best, as he looks ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I came up short of the gold,” McEwen said.

“But I’m still thankful for what I got.”

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McEwen is now looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles OlympicsCredit: Getty