The world’s best athletes from 192 countries have descended on the university town of Eugene, Oregon, USA for this year’s World Athletics Championships as the global track and field extravaganza continues for the fourth day. One of the highlights of the day will be the men’s high jump final and the spotlight will be on Qatar’s two-time world champion and the Olympic gold medallist Mutaz Barshim.
Barshim won his maiden World Championship gold in London in 2017.
Two years later, Doha hosted the prestigious event which brought the world’s attention to the Qatari capital while Barshim successfully defended his title in front of his home crowd at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium on October 4, 2019.
Previously, the Asian champion had finished fourth in Beijing 2015, second in Moscow 2013, and seventh back in 2011 in Daegu World Championships.
Since then, Barshim has come a long way, enjoying a host of prestigious accolades at the Asian and world stages.
The Qatari’s impressive medal haul includes three Olympic medals, three World Championships medals, two at World Indoor Championships, two Asian games golds, two Asian Athletics Championship medals as well as five Asian Indoor Athletics Championships golds, among many others.
Barshim’s only participation since the Tokyo Games came in May at the Diamond League 2022 season-opener in Doha, where he finished second with a jump of 2.30m behind South Korean World Indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok. But Barshim is highly optimistic as he chases a hat-trick of World Championship gold medals.
“This is important to me because it’s the World Championships. It comes with status and it determines who’s the best out there. It doesn’t matter how you’ve been jumping the whole season,” he said in a recent interview.
Once again, Barshim has the opportunity to raise Qatar’s flag at the global stage - and the 31-year-old is brimming with confidence after Friday’s qualifying round. The Aspire graduate proved that he is a clear favourite to win the gold at the historic Hayward Field after clearing the bar at 2.28 metres in his first attempt to sail into today’s final.
“I’m counting on all my experience,” Barshim said after making it to the medal round with 12 others.
Joining Barshim in the final round will be his friendly rival – Italian Gianmarco Tamberi, who memorably shared the gold medal with him at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
The final will start at 3.45 am Qatar time tomorrow.
