Barshim, Tamberi aim for World title after Tokyo Olympics high

Since that magical night at Tokyo Olympics when they both stood on top of the podium with gold medals draped around their necks, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi have been inseparable. The two high jumpers have been friends for long, but after their act of sportsmanship in Tokyo when they decided to share gold, their bond has become even stronger.
Italian Tamberi has even spent a lot more time in Qatar, having trained here in March and April. Ahead of Friday's Doha Diamond League, the two shared the space again on the podium as they spoke about that historical moment at Olympics and their camaraderie since.
But once they step onto the field at the Qatar Sports Club today, both Barshim and Tamberi reminded on Thursday they will mean business. It’s the first time the two will compete against each other since their iconic joint victory at the Tokyo Games and the high jump stars insisted they will not repeat the gesture if they are tied again.
“We already talked about it, it is not going to happen again,” said Tamberi, as the Barshim sitting beside nodded in agreement at the press conference on Thursday. “We will look at each other (If we are tied again), we will say OK let’s go” to jump off. For myself, I will never go back in the past and change what we have done. We will forever remember as brothers ... friends,” the Italian added.
“We both won because we both deserved that gold medal. When they ask us will you share again we say ‘no’ because we have done it once. But it does not mean we are not proud of it. I will never change the past even if you paid me or guaranteed me that I will be the one who wins that gold medal, I will share with him because I know he deserves, I know I deserve.”
Both Barshim and Tamberi have set their targets on World Championships in Eugene, US, later this July. Tamberi has never won a world championship medal, while Barshim is gunning for greatness aiming to become the first athlete to win three straight high jump titles. “At the 2019 Worlds in Doha, someone asked me how I’d feel defending my world title and becoming the first male high jumper to do so. That stuck with me. Now I’m motivating myself by saying it’ll be even better to be the only guy to win three in a row. It keeps me going. It is not easy to find motivation after such a big year, such a big success,” said Barshim.
The Doha Diamond League will be the Qatari’s first meeting since last August but the 30-year-old has lined up few events before the world championships, including GCC Games in Kuwait next week and Diamond League event in Rome on June 9.
And he will be hoping he can hit the ground running today in front of home fans. But it will be difficult to gauge the form of an athlete who hasn’t competed for more than nine months and Barshim hinted that he is not yet at his physical best. “Honestly, if it wasn’t at home, I probably wouldn’t have jumped. But Doha is home and my people will be out there, my family and friends, cheering for me. That’s always a special feeling. I took my first steps in the sport I love here and it’ll always be special,” Barshim said.
“Normally, people start with small events and move on to tougher events. That way, competing in the Diamond League straightaway may be risky. But I’m experienced and know what to do. Since it’s very early in the season, I may not be able to jump impressive heights. But my focus is different, I want to see where I’m at the moment, set a mark and start working from there,” he added.
Tamberi, meanwhile, after his Olympic gold went on to win the Diamond League title last year and made a last-minute decision to compete at the World Indoor Championships two months ago, leaving Belgrade with a bronze medal.
Today, both Barshim and Tamberi will have their task cut out. If recent form is anything to go by, then world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok will start as the marginal favourite. The Korean was fourth at the Olympics last year, cleared a world-leading 2.36m earlier this year and then won the world indoor title. He opened his outdoor season last month with a 2.30m win in Daegu. Other contenders include Commonwealth champion Brandon Starc, world indoor bronze medallist Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and US jumps talent JuVaughn Harrison.