Doha: At 33, Mutaz Barshim has the same ambition as it was when he was a teenager – to win every competition he takes part in. After winning his historic fourth Olympic medal at the Paris Games, the legendary Qatari athlete is targeting a fourth world title at the World Championships in Japan next year. The high jump superstar yesterday made his first appearance in the media since returning home from Paris with a bronze medal – adding to his gold in Tokyo 2020 and silver medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016 that made him the most decorated men’s high jumper in the Olympic history.
It was also Team Qatar’s only medal in the recently-concluded Games. “It’s an honour for me and I am very happy and proud,” Barshim told reporters in his usual affable style at a press conference at Katara’s Chedi Hotel. The lanky athlete had announced prior to the Paris Games that it will be his last Olympics with next year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo being his next big goal where he will look to create more history after winning three straight world crowns in London 2017, Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022.
“There is always something new and I will be competing in the World Championships in Japan next year. The rest of events like the Diamond League only if it’s serve our agenda. It has to be like part of the training that leads to a bigger Championship.
So of course it might be a few Diamond League events,” he said. “The most important will be the What Gravity Challeng.