Giving a glimpse into his training camps and regimen as he prepares for his attempt at winning the only major honour missing from his trophy cabinet — an Olympic gold — Qatari high jump star Mutaz Barshim has released a docu-series Mutaz Barshim: Jump for Gold.
The five-part series in partnership with Red Bull will follow the two-time world champion through a journey of his hardcore training camps in various locations across the world in his quest for the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in Summer this year.
Commenting on the series, the two-time Olympic medallist says, “People always see me on the track and field, in competition, in my sportive element. I feel it’s time to get closer, share the details, the process, more in an up-close and personal way.”
Barshim, who has a personal best of 2.43m, just shy of the world record of 2.45m, adds: “I want to take them with me to the mountains of Zakopane, to my home in Doha, to my lockdown days and how the world changed for me, to Malmo and Munich where I have different training experiences. The people have always been my greatest supporters and through this series I want them to be closer to me through my journey.
The story, narrated by Barshim, starts in December 2019 after he became the only high jumper in history to successfully defend his world title, all through the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the postponement of the Olympics, the one extra year, and heading back to a new normal today in 2021.
“In this series, I share how each training camp held in a different country has its own impact on me physically, mentally and emotionally,” adds Barshim.
The first chapter sees Barshim at the start of his journey towards the Olympic gold medal. Back in December 2019 Barshim was in the mountains of Zakopane in Poland, as the elite high jumper focused on preparing his body and mind for the most challenging 2020 season ever, after the mega world title win in Doha.
“Surrounded by nature where it’s calm and quite is where I like to find myself whenever I’m building up to a competitive season of high jumping,” says Barshim. Accompanied by coach Stanislaw Szczyrba, mountains play an important role in inspiring Barshim as he works on his physical and mental game. “Why Zakopane? Because I have a Polish coach! He took me here first time 9 years ago and ever since it’s been great. Weather conditions here in Zakopane are extremely cold with snow sometimes. This altitude training in such conditions helps build my endurance levels,” he explains.
Mutaz was based at the Centralny Osrodek Sportu Zakopane, and as part of the series, takes the viewer through his daily routine at this Olympic Preparation Centre. “I start my daily routine with morning hikes in the mountain. My afternoon training is mainly indoors with cardio warm-up, stretching, drills, and hurdles followed by strength training with weights,” he elaborates.
“Each success and achievement come with a lot of more expectations, not only from the sport but also from society,” says Barshim, who reflects on the progress he made in Zakopane at the end of the chapter.
The upcoming chapters will focus on Barshim’s return to Doha in early January 2020, how the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the world, impacting the athlete personally and professionally, moving on to his return back to the new normal late 2020/early 2021.
The five-part series in partnership with Red Bull will follow the two-time world champion through a journey of his hardcore training camps in various locations across the world in his quest for the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in Summer this year.
Commenting on the series, the two-time Olympic medallist says, “People always see me on the track and field, in competition, in my sportive element. I feel it’s time to get closer, share the details, the process, more in an up-close and personal way.”
Barshim, who has a personal best of 2.43m, just shy of the world record of 2.45m, adds: “I want to take them with me to the mountains of Zakopane, to my home in Doha, to my lockdown days and how the world changed for me, to Malmo and Munich where I have different training experiences. The people have always been my greatest supporters and through this series I want them to be closer to me through my journey.
The story, narrated by Barshim, starts in December 2019 after he became the only high jumper in history to successfully defend his world title, all through the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the postponement of the Olympics, the one extra year, and heading back to a new normal today in 2021.
“In this series, I share how each training camp held in a different country has its own impact on me physically, mentally and emotionally,” adds Barshim.
The first chapter sees Barshim at the start of his journey towards the Olympic gold medal. Back in December 2019 Barshim was in the mountains of Zakopane in Poland, as the elite high jumper focused on preparing his body and mind for the most challenging 2020 season ever, after the mega world title win in Doha.
“Surrounded by nature where it’s calm and quite is where I like to find myself whenever I’m building up to a competitive season of high jumping,” says Barshim. Accompanied by coach Stanislaw Szczyrba, mountains play an important role in inspiring Barshim as he works on his physical and mental game. “Why Zakopane? Because I have a Polish coach! He took me here first time 9 years ago and ever since it’s been great. Weather conditions here in Zakopane are extremely cold with snow sometimes. This altitude training in such conditions helps build my endurance levels,” he explains.
Mutaz was based at the Centralny Osrodek Sportu Zakopane, and as part of the series, takes the viewer through his daily routine at this Olympic Preparation Centre. “I start my daily routine with morning hikes in the mountain. My afternoon training is mainly indoors with cardio warm-up, stretching, drills, and hurdles followed by strength training with weights,” he elaborates.
“Each success and achievement come with a lot of more expectations, not only from the sport but also from society,” says Barshim, who reflects on the progress he made in Zakopane at the end of the chapter.
The upcoming chapters will focus on Barshim’s return to Doha in early January 2020, how the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the world, impacting the athlete personally and professionally, moving on to his return back to the new normal late 2020/early 2021.