DOHA: Don’t be disappointed if you see Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim falling short of his full potential when he starts his season today at the opening leg of the IAAF Diamond League series.
The ‘wonder kid’ - as he is affectionately called in Qatar - is lumbering up with measured steps to keep his dodgy back in good shape.
“I am just looking to get a good start. I have had a lot of problems with my back lately,” Barshim said yesterday
“I am happy to be here to represent my country. But I am looking forward to the season, and to setting a personal best. It should be something good, to get 2.40m,” the 22-year-old added.
The Qatari managed a bronze medal at the London Games last August in front of an 80,000 strong crowd at the Olympic Stadium.
With a personal best of 2.39, he topped last year’s world list and continued with an impressive 2.37 world-leading leap at the 2013 indoor season.
“It is a long season and it starts here,” Barshim said.
“My goal is the Moscow World Championships,” he added quickly. “I want to look after myself so that I can do well in the Diamond League series. I have been preparing well,” the tall Qatari said.
When asked about his health condition, Barshim said he’s faced back issues for the first time two years ago.
“I had this problem in 2011. It popped up again one week before the London Games (last August). So now I know that I shouldn’t rush things. I should manage things carefully,” he said.
In his last major assignment almost a month ago, the Qatari picked up a gold medal with an effortless performance at the 13th GCC Athletics Championships at Khalifa International Stadium. Barshim comfortably jumped 2.25 while his brother - 19-year-old Muamer - trailed with 2.16, falling just four centimetres short of his 2.20 personal best set at the Doha 2012 Diamond League.
Dahlan Al Hamad, President of Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) said he was pleased to see Barshim rubbing shoulders with a rich field in Doha that has attracted 29 medallists from the London Games and 18 winners from the Daegu Worlds held in 2011.
“We are delighted that our ‘wonder kid’ is competing with the best in athletics,” Al Hamad said.
“This is one of the best events on the circuit and to have your own medals prospects at this event feels good,” he said.
Barshim confirmed he would be competing alongside his brother Muamer for the first time at a top international meet.
The two brothers have been competing together at most local and regional events but never at an IAAF Diamond League leg.
Muamer emerged on the world scene only recently. He was crowned Asian Junior Champion last year and took part in the World Junior Championships in Barcelona. Though the brothers pack a punch at local level, but competing against the best would be a tougher proposition.
The Barshims will be up against Britain’s Olympic bronze medalist Robbie Grabarz and 2007 World Champion Donald Thomas from the Bahamas, 2011 World silver medalist Aleksey Dmitrik, former European Champion Aleksandr Shustov and reigning European Indoor Champion Sergey Mudrov.
THE PENINSULA
