Qatar’s track and field star Mutaz Barshim will be looking for a golden Olympics farewell when he goes up against Italian friend and foe Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump final at the Paris Games 2024 on Saturday.
Three years ago, Barshim and Tamberi shared the honours in the high jump final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after both athletes agreed not to go for a jump-off to decide the winner. With Barshim having already announced this will be his last Olympic Games appearance, the two fierce rivals will be seen competing for the gold one final time.
A day before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, Barshim said: “At this moment, in my career now, I’ve done so much. So, this Olympics to me is all about legacy.”
If Barshim wins a medal on Saturday, it will follow his gold at Tokyo and silver medals at London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
The 33-year-old Qatari is a revered figure in world athletics having won an unprecedented three titles at the World Athletics Championships besides picking up Olympic Games medals regularly since 2012. He remains Qatar’s greatest athlete by far.
On Wednesday, Barshim - whose brother is the goalkeeper with the Qatar national football side - braved calf discomfort to qualify for Satuday’s final that also features New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr, Shelby McEwan of the US, Woo Sanghyeok of South Korea, Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk, Bulgaria’s Tihomir Ivanov and Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu.
Barshim, who has had a patchy build up to the Paris Olympics because of fitness issues this season, on Wednesday nearly pulled out during the qualifying when he attempted to clear 2.27. After seeking medical attention, Barshim easily cleared 2.27 to reach Saturday’s final.
Barshim, who managed jumps of 2.15m, 2.20m, and 2.27m, assured his fans of being ‘fully fit’ for the final.
“I am fine. There is nothing to worry about,” Barshim said in a video message after qualifying for the final round on Wednesday.
President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, Mohamed Issa al-Fadala said Barshim will be lining up to defend his title on Saturday.
“Barshim will be fully prepared to compete in the high jump final on Saturday. The injury is minor one and will not prevent him from participating in the final, al-Fadala said on Thursday.
Looking ahead to his bid to become the first man to retain the Olympic title, Tamberi said: “There is no expectation, there is hope and a dream. I want it so much, I sacrificed my life for this goal, so I will just come on Saturday with all my strength.”
He added: “Nobody has done it before and there is a reason, it’s not easy. I’m just waiting for Saturday and hope it’s going to be better.”
Tamberi’s Olympic defence was thrown into doubt just three days before the qualifying round when he was hospitalised.
The high jumper posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed, revealing a suspected kidney stone. The unexpected health setback cast a shadow over his chances of competing in Paris, where he aimed to defend the gold medal he shared in Tokyo.
“I can say good after the last few days, but I feel tired,” Tamberi said when asked about his morning’s work.
“In the approach I can’t accelerate as I usually do. But in the past my qualification has never been good and then in the final something’s changed, so that’s the hope,” the Italian added.
The final will kick off at 8:00pm Qatar Time.
