by Larry EderThis is the fifth day of the Nike Talks World Indoors Series. Thanks to Nike Sports Marketing, @runblogrun will provide a Monday-Friday story on a key athlete from US, Great Britain, Europe, Africa and Asia. On the weekends, we will go back in World Indoor history and provide a favorite moment. This sponsorship goes from January1-March 5. We hope you enjoy. And please check out www.nikerunning.com. Remember to support our sponsors. They are supporting the heart of running.
Today, we are writing about World Champion,Mutaz Essa Barshim today!
And always remember to check out www.wicbirmingham2018.com
Mutaz Essa Barshim, London 2017 World Champion, high jump, photo by PhotoRun.net
It was last summer, and I was in Paris, on the press day. It is one of my favorite press days, as we get 10-12 interviews over the day, and the management sets up some great rivalries and some great interviews. I had interviewed Elaine Thompson, and was interviewing Mutaz Essa Barshim.
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mutaz Essa Barshim is a very popular athlete on the global circuit. His jumping is very emotional, and track fans love his antics after his jumping. It is obvious that the Qatari athlete loves his event and his support.
At the press conference in Paris, I asked Mutaz if he cleared the WR, would he continue to jump. The WR of 2.46 meters, by Javier Sotmayer, has been a dream of many. Athletes like Bohdan Bondarenko and Mutaz Barshim look to be two athletes capable of the the serious World record attempt.
Mutaz Essa Barshim told me that, ” I would continue to jump. I love jumping.”
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
It was obvious this past summer, as he won the London World Championships, and truly enjoyed the accolades and the performance. Mutaz had been trying for some time, and he had come close, but, in London, at the World Championships, Barshim took the gold.
Barshim had won gold in Sopot in 2014, in the World Indoors. He had won bronze in 2012 London, silver in Rio 2016, and finally, the gold in London World Champs made a big difference.
At the Birmingham Diamond league, Mutaz Barshim cleared 2.40 meters, surprising himself a bit and he then took the cross bar and had it shipped to Doha!
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
With personal bests of 2.43 meters from 2014 (remember that great adidas NYC Grand Prix?), and his personal indoor best indoors, 2.41 meters, what will Mutaz Essa Barshim do in Birmingham?
The men’s high jump should be highly competitive, and Barshim has a great 2017 season behind him, so this writer puts him on the top of the high jump food chain.
We will just have to wait less than two months now to see the gold medalist from London 2017 battle all once again in the United Kingdom!
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
