Mutaz Barshim
Doha, Qatar: As the global stage eagerly await the start of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, all eyes in the men's high jump will turn to Qatar's illustrious defending World and Olympic champion, Mutaz Barshim.
Aiming for an incredible fourth World title in a row, Barshim leaves a remarkable footprint in world athletics with a journey that has propelled him to become one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The Aspire graduate stands as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and athletic prowess, and is aiming to create history in Budapest.
With only few days remaining until the high jump showdown, Barshim opened up about his unique approach to the competition.
"I have not been competing a lot this season but I have so much on my back. Nowadays, I am a different high jumper. I have been competing for a while and I know my body. I understand much more what to do, when to do it. It is not always about going out there and competing," Barshim revealed.
"Sometimes, training is all I need. The result of a competition is only a reflection of what you have been doing in training. Sometimes you see me competing once or twice but the outcome is great. If I am not competing, it does not mean that I have not been working," he clarified.
While Barshim's approach might different from the norm, his results speak for themselves.
Barshim has won all high jump finals at World Championships since London 2017, and also fulfilled his dream of winning a gold at the Tokyo Olympics after earning two silver medals at London and Rio.
High jump is a technical discipline, and Barshim says his attention extends to his choice of footwear.
"I always need the right shoes. If you have a fast car without wheels, you cannot perform. The same importance goes for a high jumper's shoes. My high jump is very technical and for it I need to make sure that I know what I am doing while jumping and the shoes are what gives me confidence," he explained, highlighting the link between his success and sport gear.
Barshim is also one of the few high jumpers who wear a watch during his event.
"I am actually jumping with my own watch developed especially for me. It is very lightweight, just 32 grams. I get a lot of questions from people asking me how I can jump with it, and is it too heavy for me?" Barshim said.
"I have a very special relationship with this watch and the story behind it. It is very close to my heart... This watch gives me a buzz of energy. It is not just a watch, it has a sentimental value for me. But I want to keep the story about it to myself for now," Barshim, 32, said.
As Barshim readies himself for another shot at high jump glory, the stage is being set up for a showdown between the best in the world at the National Athletics Centre in the Hungarian capital.
