Tokyo, Japan, August 1, 2021: High jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim won Qatar’s second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games after he tied for first place with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi on a night of high drama at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, August 1.
Barshim, sporting his trademark sunglasses, and the flamboyant Italian Tamberi had identical clean records at every attempt to 2.37 metres.
After both athletes had missed all three attempts at the Olympic record of 2.39m, they decided against a jump-off resulting in a gold medal each.
“It’s amazing, man. Share it with my friends, my coach. It’s an amazing feeling,” said Barshim.
“I said if I won, I wouldn’t have to pay for my dinner and if he won, I’d pay - but I guess everyone pays for their own dinner now.
“I mean it’s a great feeling, I’m really happy.”
Barshim’s gold medal is the first Olympic gold in track and field for Qatar and comes hot on the heels of the first ever Olympic gold medal for the country which was won by weightlifter Fares Ibrahim on Saturday.
There was a dramatic conclusion to the men’s high jump final when an official offered both athletes the chance to share the gold or continue in a jump-off. The Qatari and the Italian chose to share it, triggering wild celebrations among the Qatari delegation at the stadium and a warm embrace from the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The gold medal proved to be the final step to Olympic glory for the two-time world champion Barshim, who won a bronze at London 2012 and a silver at Rio 2016.
Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus won the bronze medal. He also cleared 2.37m and claimed the medal on countback.
