BEIJING : Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim claimed gold in the men’s high jump at the Asian Jumps Championships in Chongqing, China, on Tuesday after clearing 2.23 metres, his best mark of the season.
The Olympic champion improved on the 2.16m jump that earned him gold at the GCC Games in Doha earlier this year as he continues his return from a lengthy injury absence.
Barshim, who returned to competition this season after nearly two years out due to injury, had little trouble surpassing his previous 2026 best.
The 34-year-old owns one of the most decorated resumes in high jump history, having won Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, silver medals at the London 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016 Olympics, and bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
He also secured three consecutive world titles at the World Athletics Championships London 2017, World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 and World Athletics Championships Eugene 2022.
Barshim won silver at the 2013 world championships in Moscow and bronze at the 2023 championships in Budapest.
His personal best of 2.43m, set in Brussels in 2014, remains the second-highest jump in history.
Barshim is next scheduled to compete at the Doha Diamond League on June 19.
