Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim, the reigning Olympic high jump champion, has hinted that the Paris 2024 Games may be his final appearance in the Olympics. Despite previously suggesting a retirement for the past few years, Barshim is now leaning towards making Paris his last Olympics. He aims to solidify his status as one of the greatest high jumpers in the world and leave a lasting legacy in his pet event.
Barshim’s Olympic journey began at the 2012 London Games, where he initially won a bronze medal that was later upgraded to a silver. He further cemented his reputation at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics by winning a silver medal and then achieved his ultimate goal at the Tokyo 2020 Games by securing a gold medal in a shared victory with his friend Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy. This heartwarming moment of sportsmanship made headlines and is considered a historic moment in Olympic history.
Looking ahead to Paris 2024, Barshim is excited to return to the biggest stage and showcase his skills once again. As the current holder of both indoor and outdoor Asian records in high jump, he aims to create a lasting legacy in the sport and potentially add another Olympic medal to his collection. Barshim’s ultimate goal is to be remembered as one of the greatest high jumpers of all time and to have his name mentioned whenever the high jump event is discussed.
While the shared gold medal in Tokyo was a special moment for Barshim, he emphasized that it was a one-time occurrence and that he is determined to continue competing at his best. Barshim and his fellow competitors are hungry for success and strive to be the best in their sport. As he prepares for the upcoming Paris Games, Barshim is looking forward to the challenge of competing in a big stadium with a cheering crowd and aims to make a significant impact on the high jump event.
With his impressive track record and the second-highest jump of all time at 2.43 meters, Barshim will be a strong contender in the high jump qualifying round on August 7 before the final on August 10 at the iconic State de France. As he approaches what may be his final Olympic appearance, Barshim is focused on leaving a mark on the sport and solidifying his place among the all-time greats in high jump.
