by Alfonz Juck
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
DOHA (QAT): Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim begins his 2018 outdoor campaign on the back of his most successful season ever, which saw him become 2017 World Champion, Diamond League Champion, IAAF World Athlete of the Year and the first high jumper since 2004 to be undefeated for a whole season. Despite this incredible success, Barshim remains as motivated and focussed as ever with his sights firmly set on victory at a home World Championships in 2019, Olympic gold in 2020 and the elusive high jump world-record that has been standing for 25 years. “Winning the Olympic gold is the ultimate goal for me. I have already won Olympic silver and bronze but still not the gold.”
RunBlogRun opines: I have witnessed Mutaz Barshim compete from Malmo, Sweden to Paris, France, to Doha, Qatar, to Beijing, China. A supreme competitor, Barshim is getting into his prime competition years. Can he surpass 2.46m? I believe so, and he might just do it in 2019 in his home country! Barshim is the ultimate competitor and likes to get pushed in competition. I respected Mutaz in Birmingham, where he had an amazing. No excuses for Barshim, he wants to win, but realizes, in this sport, it does not happen each and every competition.
Seb Coe, Mutaz Barshim, Prince Albert of Monaco, photo by PhotoRun.net
