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Qatari becomes first man in history to clear 2.40m or higher for five consecutive years
Agencies
Birmingham (UK)
He hadn't jumped or jogged, let alone trained, since winning the world high jump title exactly one week ago, but Mutaz Essa Barshim looked full of life as he bounded over 2.40m at the Muller Grand Prix, providing the highlight of the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham on Sunday (20).
It wasn't all plain sailing for the Qatari, though. Having led up to and including 2.28m with first-time clearances at each height, he brought the bar down at 2.31m. World bronze medallist Majd Eddin Ghazal then applied pressure by going over that height on his first attempt.
After one more miss, Barshim got over it on his third try to remain in the competition. He then went clear at 2.33m and 2.35m, at which point Ghazal retired from the competition. Barshim then had the bar set to 2.39m and clipped it with his heels on his first try. After an unconvincing second attempt, he requested for the bar to be upped to 2.40m. With his final attempt of the day, he slinked over the bar with absolute precision to break his own meeting record.
Having jumped that landmark height each season since 2013, Barshim now becomes the first man in history to clear 2.40m or higher for five consecutive years.
His winning jump was also the first 2.40m leap on British soil since 2000."I knew I had that jump in me but I needed that pressure on my shoulders," said Barshim.
"It was a strong competition which really tested me and that made me perform at my best. I love it here; I had the meeting record here from 2014 and I also won in Birmingham last year so it is a lucky place for me.
"I can jump as high as possible," he added."I don't want to put any limits on myself. 2.40m was great today and I didn't want to push it too much a risk injury so I was just sensible."
After celebrating his winning jump, he walked back up to the uprights, picked up the crossbar and walked back to the bench."Seriously, I'm taking this home with me," he told the in-stadium interviewer.
