Qatari champion Moataz Barshim was crowned champion of the first edition of the “Defying Gravity” jump championship
Qatari champion Moataz Barshim was crowned champion of the first edition of the “Defying Gravity” high jump championship held in Doha, in his first gold medal this season, after he came second in the Chinese rounds of Xiamen and Shanghai in the Diamond League last April.
In front of the crowds who gathered at the open Roman Theater in Katara, Barshim – the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist shared with Italian Gianmarco Tampere and a 3-time world champion – achieved first place with a jump of 2.31 metres.
Our world champion #Moataz_Barshim He wins the title of the first edition of the Gravity Defying High Jump Championship#Qena_athlete pic.twitter.com/uGcTkAOIw0
– QNA Sports (@QNA_Sports) May 9, 2024
Barshim advanced in number of attempts over South Korean Woo Sang-hyuk, while American Jovon Harrison, winner of the silver medal at the Budapest 2023 World Championship, settled for third place with 2.28 metres.
Barshim said that this tournament is not considered in the context of preparation for the Olympic Games scheduled for Paris next summer, explaining that “preparation for Paris begins next week, but this tournament is very important because it reveals to me where I stand now, and what mistakes I must correct.”
Barshim – who came up with the idea of the tournament – added, “The Olympic season is very long, and winning was very necessary, and this is my best number this season.”
Look |
Our hero Moataz Barshim won the title of the first edition of the Defying Gravity Championship in the high jump by crossing a height of 2.31 meters in the first attempt.#Cass_channels pic.twitter.com/1pzcQA8so1– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) May 9, 2024
As for whether he was satisfied with the number he achieved, Barshim, gold holder at the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, continued, “Certainly I am satisfied.” The most important thing in such tournaments is to win. We won the first edition and it will remain in Doha, and I promise the fans the best always.”
Barshim confirmed that the idea of the “Defying Gravity” tournament revolves around holding a tournament in more than one city around the world in the coming seasons.
Barshim, who has a personal best of 2.43 metres, the second best jumper in history, confirmed when the first edition was unveiled last February that “the championship will be included in the IAAF calendar after obtaining the silver classification, which is the highest classification it can obtain.” “He has an emerging championship.”
