Qatar's Mutaz Barshim Bows Out with Olympic Bronze in Paris

Barshim secures his fourth Olympic medal, capping off a legendary career in the men's high jump final.

Publish date: Sunday، 11 August 2024

Qatar's Mutaz Barshim Bows Out with Olympic Bronze in Paris

Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim ended his illustrious Olympic career on a high note, securing a bronze medal in the men’s high jump final at the Paris Olympics. Competing at the Stade de France, Barshim cleared 2.34 meters, marking his season’s best and adding a fourth Olympic medal to his collection.

New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr claimed the gold after a dramatic jump-off against USA’s McEwen Shelby, both athletes struggling to surpass the 2.36-meter mark. Barshim, 33, who previously won silver in London 2012 and Rio 2016, as well as a historic gold in Tokyo 2020, had hoped to become the first high jumper to win two Olympic gold medals. Despite a strong start, clearing 2.22m, 2.27m, 2.31m, and 2.34m on his first attempts, he narrowly missed clearing 2.36m and 2.38m, ultimately settling for bronze.

Barshim’s third-place finish came after edging out Italy’s Stefano Sottile on countback, with Sottile also clearing 2.34m but taking fourth place. The competition marked Barshim’s final Olympic appearance, a decision he announced last month.

The gold medal contest between Kerr and Shelby saw neither athlete able to clear 2.38m or 2.36m in the jump-off, with Kerr eventually securing the title with a 2.34m leap.

The event also saw heartbreak for Gianmarco Tamberi, Barshim’s joint gold medalist from Tokyo 2020, who was hospitalized just hours before the final. The Italian, visibly in pain, failed to clear 2.27m after managing 2.22m on his final attempt.

“Despite the intense pain, the real hurt is inside,” Tamberi shared on Instagram ahead of the final, referencing the renal colic that impacted his performance.

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Qatar's Mutaz Barshim Bows Out with Olympic Bronze in Paris

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