Alkass Digital
In what he described as a special meeting for him, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim produced a spectacular show, perhaps one of his best performances.
The reigning Olympic and world champion leapt to an effortless 2.36m to win at the Skolimowska Memorial in Silesia, Poland setting a world lead, also breaking his own meeting record of 2.35 he registered in 2016.
Sunday's victory was the first Diamond League win of the season for the high jump star after he finished third at the Doha meeting in May.
As expected, Barshim’s friend Gianmarco Tamberi with whom he shared the Tokyo Olympics gold medal, was the last man standing to challenge the three-time world champion but the Italian failed to clear the height, finishing second for his jump of 2.34m in the second attempt.
Germany’s Tobias Potye, who also cleared 2.34m in his second jump, had to settle for third place on the countback.
Barshim looked in phenomenal form yesterday as he cleared the heights of 2.20, 2.24, 2.27, 2.30 and 2.32 in first attempts. After failing the first two tries on 2.34, he opted for 2.36 which he cleared in the first go.
“For me it is still early season, it is only my second competition. I am on my way back, I have been ill over the past month. My jumps today were good, but I am always looking for ways to improve,” the 32-year-old said after sealing the win.
“People look at my jumps and say they were great, but I usually think they were just ok. There are still things that I need to work on. I think I still have a 2.40 jump in me, hopefully this year. It was a great competition today, with my rivals pushing me. I always say I would rather lose in a great competition than win in a bad one,” Barshim added.
Italy’s Tamberi was satisfied with his second place.
“I am happy about today´s result, but I am not happy that until 2.36 I struggled with my technique. Today was my first competition with my full approach of 11 steps, not counting Stockholm with the rain. I am in a very good shape,” he said.
“My congratulations go to Mutaz. What I take from this competition: It is all about technical issues, I always want to improve technically. My mental approach was great, not giving up after some difficulties. My last jumps were the best, so I did really great even at the end of the competition,” Tamberi added.