‘What Gravity Challenge’ – a competition involving world’s 12 best High Jumpers will be held at the Katara Amphitheatre on May 9. A brainchild of Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim, the innovative championship will be organised by the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF).
The winner will take home a custom-made trophy crafted by esteemed local artist Ahmed al-Bahrani. The ‘What Gravity Challenge’ represents Barshim’s personal expression of gratitude to Qatar, which has supported him throughout his career.
Named after Barshim’s own brand, ‘What Gravity’, established in 2014, the high jump meet is a means of giving back to the community by hosting a competition intended to inspire many to pursue the sport.
At a press conference yesterday, while revealing the details of the event, QAF President Mohamed Issa al-Fadala said Barshim came up with the idea of holding the championship.
Former high jump Olympic champion and world record holder Javier Sotomayor was unveiled as the ambassador of the event, along with Sweden’s Patrik Sjoberg, who holds the third highest jump in the history behind Barshim.
“What Gravity Challenge is a legacy that I am proud to present in the name of my country Qatar. The tournament was an idea on paper but it became a reality thanks to the support of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee,” said Barshim yesterday, as he sat next to Sotomayor and Sjoberg in the press conference.
“We hope this event will become a legacy in the future. The dream has come true and the tournament will be held at the highest level and will include an elite group of world and Olympic champions. I feel very happy to implement the idea of the tournament and we hope it will go on to be an international tournament organised in the world annually,” the three-time world champion added.
Al-Fadala said QAF studied and implemented the idea of hosting the tournament after Barshim had told him about it. “We hope that the first edition of the championship will be a great success. When Mutaz told me about the idea of the tournament, we studied and implemented it and we hope that it will continue and be a global tournament,” he noted.
“The tournament will be hosted in accordance with the highest standards of the World Athletics and there will be huge prize money, which will attract the top high jumpers. QAF has always strived to organise its championships at the highest level in accordance with international standards. We obtained first place in organising the last edition of the Diamond League Championship and we hope that the first edition of the Gravity Challenge will be at the best level in all aspects,” al-Fadala added.
Sotomayor, who made his record-breaking 2.45-metres leap over the outdoor high jump bar in Salamanca, Spain in 1993, was impressed with the idea of hosting a tournament, which he said will have a great future at the international level.
“Being a former high jumper, I am excited to watch the next generation of champions defy gravity. It encourages outstanding world class athletes from around the world to showcase their talents and inspire future generations,” said the 56-year-old, who won the Olympic gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games and silver at the 2000 Sydney Games.
“I am very happy to be present at the launch of the first edition of the ‘What Gravity Challenge’. I thank Qatar Athletics Federation and Mutaz Barshim for inviting me to attend this historic moment,” the Cuban added.
Sjoberg, meanwhile, said: “The ‘What Gravity Challenge’ Championship is a wonderful idea and I expect that the tournament will receive great interest and will be the focus of attention for world champions to participate in in the coming years.”