Mutaz Barshim is not resting easy after having become the High Jump World
Champion. The athlete is all set to go higher and higher.
High Jump World Champion Mutaz Barshim has eyes set on his next goal: to be at the all-time top of the world. “My next mark is the world record. I have enough time to prepare for that. There is no major championship till next summer. I will be training hard and will focus on the next Asian Games in August,” he told Community at a dinner hosted last week by Red Bull Qatar in his honour.
“There are high expectations of people around me about my next achievement. The expectations get higher and higher along with the high jump marks. I have and will always try my best to live up to the expectations,” said Barshim.
The event saw a large number of people assemble for a chance to take a selfie with the world champion who has put Qatar on the high jumping world map.
In response to a question on how he sees the next world championship for high jump being organised in Qatar, he said, “It is going to be a great occasion in my career. My family, my friends, and my country people will be there to support me. I will try my best to live up to their expectations. It is going to be a great event. I will love to see my mother in the crowd.”
When asked how he saw his past achievements in the last 10 years, Barshim smiled and said that he has seen his dreams fulfilled. He said that he was eager to be in line with “these big guys and in the centre of attention. Initially I dreamed of being part of Olympics. Now I have two Olympics medals. I am among the top jumpers. I am happy as the name of my country is famous in the sport.”
His career stats have been consistently going up. Barshim won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics, followed by a silver medal in the 2016 edition. His win at the World Championship 2017 was not a surprise: he was the favourite going into the competition.
In response to a question about how he has been received in Qatar after becoming the world champion, Barshim said; “His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has called me twice and has appreciated my performance. I thought he might not call me due to the political situation. But he called me twice. I am very thankful to him for his support. I have also been receiving support and applause from across Qatar and I am very happy.”
He added that the support he has received would further push him to do even better in future. When asked how touchy or cautious he was about his diet, the high jumper said, “I always look at the weight scale. As long as my weight is ok I will eat whatever I will want to. Many people come to me and say eat this and do not eat that. I do not like people controlling me. I just control my weight and eat whatever I desire.”
Regarding what has led to his success, Barshim said that he has had great team members. “I got a great manager and trainer. Everyone supports me.”
Barshim won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics, followed by a silver medal in the 2016 edition. His win at the World Championship 2017 was not a surprise: he was the favourite going into the competition.
