Hamish Kerr of New Zealand soared to victory in the men’s Olympic high jump on Saturday, securing his country’s first-ever medal in the event. Kerr’s winning jump of 2.36 meters came after a grueling and captivating final that saw a thrilling battle for gold unfold.
The duel for the top spot was a tense affair between Kerr and American Shelby McEwen. Both athletes pushed themselves to the limit, but ultimately fell short in their attempts to clear 2.38 meters. As the pressure mounted, the bar was lowered to 2.36 meters, and then to 2.34 meters, Kerr was the first to clear the height, securing his victory. In a moment of pure elation, Kerr ran into the middle of the field and collapsed onto the grass in celebration.
McEwen’s performance was equally impressive, achieving a personal best and a significant improvement compared to his 12th-place finish in Tokyo. The American’s impressive performance demonstrated the depth of talent in the high jump competition.
Meanwhile, defending champion Mutaz Barshim of Qatar, who shared gold in Tokyo, settled for bronze with a season’s best jump of 2.34 meters. Barshim’s performance evoked a sense of déjà vu as he watched the intense duel between Kerr and McEwen. After his final jump, Barshim celebrated by performing a backflip, adding to his impressive Olympic resume with his fourth medal in as many appearances.
Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who shared the gold medal with Barshim in Tokyo, faced disappointment this time, failing to clear 2.27 meters and falling out of contention early in the competition due to kidney colic. The Italian’s early exit from the competition added another layer of drama to the already thrilling competition.
