‘Barshim’s bronze medal tastes like gold’

Doha: President of the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) Mohammed Issa Al Fadala heaped praise on Mutaz Barshim who ended his journey in Paris as the greatest Olympic high jumper after bagging a bronze medal. The 33-year-old finished third behind gold medalist Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and America’s McEwen Shelby in the final to clinch his fourth medal at Olympics. Barshim had won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, adding to his silver medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.

The feat made him the most decorated high jumper in the Olympic history after he claimed an unprecedented three World Athletics Championships titles in a row. “Perhaps it is easy for any athlete to become an Olympic champion but it is difficult to become Barshim. A complete athlete in every sense of the word and his bronze tastes like gold,” the QAF President said in a statement.

“Barshim is a legacy for future generations and a great incentive for the entire Qatari athletics family to always continue to be at the top,” he said before thanking Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for his “great support” towards the athletes. The lanky athlete will not take part in the 2028 Los Angeles Games but he said he will continue representing Qatar in major championships in the near future. Barshim’s bronze in his Olympic swansong was the only medal for Team Qatar, who participated with 14 athletes at the Paris Games, which concluded yesterday.

There were disap.