Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi celebrates with the Diamond Trophy after winning the men’s high jump final in Zurich, yesterday.
Doha: Qatar’s world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim finished a disappointing sixth and last in the men’s high jump at the Diamond League final in Zurich yesterday.
At a makeshift arena at Sechselautenplatz, the central city square on the shores of Lake Zurich, the 31-year-old had a sole clearance at 2.18m.
Clearly far from his best, Barshim missed once at 2.24 and then again at 2.27. He opted to clear 2.32 next, but missed that one too to make a shock early exit.
Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, who shared Olympic gold with Barshim in Tokyo, took the title with a best of 2.34m, winning on countback from American JuVaughn Harrison.
“This is not how I hoped to finish the season, I wanted to jump high,” said a dejected Barshim later.
“The jumps were really good, it was high, but there were a lot of technical mistakes. I was bouncing where I should not bounce. The situation here was different from jumping in the stadium, but it was different for everyone. The jumps were good, it just had a little technical mistake,” he added.
Now with the season over, the Qatari legend was looking forward to spend time with his family. “The season is over. I will spend some time with the family, recover a little bit and regenerate. Go and celebrate. Indoor season? I do not know: Whenever I feel it is the right time, I will be there,” Barshim said.
