by Larry Eder
Ivan Ukhov, 2012 London Olympics, High Jump, Gold, by PhotoRun.net
This competition showed the level of quality in the event once again. Eight men over 2.29m, and none of them were Jesse Williams, 2011 World Champ, or defending Olympic champ, Andrey Silnov.
In the end, Ivan Ukhov showed that yes, he can be eccentric, but that is why he jumps high. Erik Kynard made sure everyone is remembering him and Mutaz Essa Barshim is making his presence known, along with Derek Drouin and Robbie Grabarz.
Erik Kynard, silver medal, 2012 London, High jump, by PhotoRun.net
A fascinating competition, with some difficult choices for some. Jamie Nieto, shoe made it to 2.29m, clearing on his second attempt, took a chance. He missed twice at 2.33m and then tried for the the gold, trying to clear 2.36m, on his one remaining attempt. He missed, and finished sixth.
Ivan Ukhov takes the gold, clearing 2.38m! photo by PhotoRun.net
Erik Kynard, who cleared 2.20m on his first, took two to clear 2.25m, then cleared 2.29m and 2.33m on his first, tried once at 2.36m, missed, then Ukhov cleared, tried once at 2.38m, once, missed and then Ukhov cleared. Assured of the silver at least (Barshim, Drouin, Garbarz all cleared 2.29m on first, so they were assured of bronze medlas), took the chance and used his last attempt at 2.40m, and missed. Erick took the silver.
And then, Ivan the Terrible, as I call him. The wily Russian, a veteran of some atmospheric high jumping, had a night for the ages. Ivan Ukhov had a night that would have made the late Russian writer Turgenev smile!
First Ukhov clears 2.20m, 2.25 on his first attempts. Then, it takes two attempts at 2.29m, putting Kynard in the lead. Then, 2.33m, 2.36m, and finally 2.38m, and Ivan was looking at gold to show President Putin.
He tried one time at 2.40m and then noted, ” The photographers came in, and I decided not to jump anymore.”
A great night of jumping, huge surprises, with Jesse Williams and Andrey Silnov, respectively, the Wold Champion and current Olympic champion (2008), could only manage 2.25m.
Essa Mutaz Barshim, Derek Drouin, Robbie Grabarz all cleared 2.20m (not Robbie, he waited til 2.25m), then cleared 2.25m, 2.29m on first attempts, and then missed all three at 2.33m.
mHJ:1. Ivan Ukhov, RUS, 2.38m, 2.Erik Kynard, US, 2.33m, 3. Mutaz Essa Barshim, QAT,2.29m, 3.Derek Drouin, CAN,2.29m, 3.Robbie Grabarz, GBR, 2.29m, 6.Jamie Nieto, US, 2.29m, 7. Bohdan Bondarenko, UKR, 2.29m, 8.Michael Mason, CAN, 2.29m, 9. Wanner Miller, COL, 2.25m, 9. Andriy Protsenko, UKR, 2.25m, 9. Jesse Williams, USA, 2.25m, 12. Andrey Silnov, RUS, 2.25m, 13. Kyriakos Ioannou, CYP, 2.20m, 14. Mickael Hanany, FRA, 2.20m, #london2012, #olympics, #highjump
