Nothing can stop Mutaz Barshim from achieving his goals. After qualifying for the final, the reigning world champion vowed to jump “as high as it takes to win an Olympic gold” and he fulfilled his promise yesterday.
Since he retained his world title at the World Championships Doha 2019, the 30-year-old’s prime target was to win his maiden Olympic gold, and his season's best jump of 2.37m proved enough for him to share a gold medal with his friend Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who also scaled the same mark yesterday.
An Olympic gold only eluded the Qatari superstar before the final and with this feat at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium yesterday, he consolidated his name as the best high jumper of the decade.
Barshim won his first Olympic podium at London 2012 with a bronze medal and improved his result four years later in Rio Games for a silver medal. That followed back-to-back titles in World Championships (London 2017 and Doha 2019). Yesterday’s gold medal also made Barshim the only Qatari athlete to complete a set of Olympic medals.
“It is amazing, this is a dream I don’t want to wake up from,” said Barshim after he sealed the gold yesterday.
Barshim’s journey to where he is now was not easy as he went through injury lay-offs multiple times in the past few years.
“I have been through a lot. It’s been five years that I have been waiting, with injuries and a lot of setbacks. But we are here today sharing this moment and all the sacrifices. It’s really worth it now in this moment,” he added.
Barshim and Tamberi share gold
Yesterday’s duel between Barshim and Tamberi was one of the most exciting men’s high jump contests in Olympic history. Apart from Barshim and Tamberi, Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau also cleared 2.37m before all the three athletes failed to clear 2.39m after which they headed towards an official.
“Can we have two golds?”, Barshim asked the official, who was affirmative. The official's reaction was followed by celebrations from the two athletes, who are known as good friends and share mutual admiration and respect for each other.
Barshim hugged the Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, present in the stands, with tears of joy in his eyes as he achieved the biggest goal of his career.
“I want to congratulate His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Father Emir and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad and the Qatari people and everyone who supported me to achieve this great historic achievement,” said the superstar.
“The Qatari people have always supported me and they deserve all my appreciation and praise,” Barshim added.
Meanwhile, for Tamberi - the 2016 world indoor champion and reigning European champion indoors – too it was a special occasion as he became only the second Italian to win a high jump gold at Olympics after Sara Simeoni won the women’s competition in Moscow 1980.
“After my injuries I just wanted to come back, but now I have this gold, it’s incredible. I dreamed of this so many times,” Tamberi said.
“I was told in 2016 just before Rio there was a risk I wouldn’t be able to compete any more. It’s been a long journey.”
Nedasekau, who cleared 2.37m after a miss at 2.35m, was awarded the bronze medal on countback. South Korea’s Woo Sang-hyeok and Australian Brandon Starc, the younger brother of cricketer Mitchell, both cleared 2.35 to finish fourth and fifth respectively.
Barshim a role model for future generations: Al Buenain
For Qatar, Barshim’s victory yesterday brought their second gold in as many days after weightlifter Fares Ibrahim clinched their first ever Olympic gold. Qatar jumped to joint 21st position in medals table with Ecuador and Kosovo.
Praising Barshim, the Secretary-General Jassim Rashid Al Buenain hailed the World and Olympic champion as a role model for athletes to come in the future.
“It’s a historic achievement by Mutaz [Barshim] who also won a silver and bronze medal before in Olympics. He is a role model for future generations,” Al Buenain said yesterday.
“The victory is a result of years of hardwork by him. We are very happy to win back-to-back gold medals. We also wish best of luck to athletes who will compete in the remaining days,” he added.
