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Qatar’s high jump icon Mutaz Barshim marked his return to competition in memorable fashion as the hosts produced a glittering 14-medal haul on the opening day of athletics at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.Qatar finished the day with five gold, four silver and five bronze medals, with Barshim’s high jump triumph providing the standout moment of the evening.The Qatari star shared the gold medal with Oman’s Fatih Abdulghafour Beit Jaaboub after both athletes cleared 2.16m, recreating the spirit of sportsmanship that made headlines at the Tokyo Olympics when Barshim famously shared Olympic gold with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi.After the judges asked whether he wished to continue the contest, Barshim chose to share the title with the Omani athlete in a gesture that reflected the spirit of Gulf unity and camaraderie.The gold was Barshim’s fourth medal in Gulf Games history, having previously won titles in the first, third and fourth editions, in addition to a bronze medal in the second edition. Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed al-Tarouti claimed bronze.Barshim, having been out of action for long due to recurring injury setbacks, expressed delight at making a successful return. "Praise be to God. This is my first championship of the season after an absence of almost two years since the Paris Olympics. Last year I was unable to participate due to a serious injury, and today, thank God, I was able to return, participate, and win gold," Barshim said.Jaaboub said sharing the title with one of the sport’s greatest athletes was a proud moment. “It’s a wonderful feeling competing with the legend Mutaz Barshim. Sharing the gold with a champion of his calibre is a great honour for me,” the Omani athlete said.Qatar also dominated the men’s 5,000m race walk, securing gold and silver through Mabrouk Saleh Al-Karbi and Essa Barshim respectively. Al-Karbi won in 24:21.75, while Essa Barshim clocked 32:27.68. UAE’s Ayoub Sarwash took bronze.In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, Zakaria Ibrahim delivered another gold for the hosts with a winning time of 8:35.13, while compatriot Yasser Salem Bughrab secured silver in 9:08.58.Seifeldin Abdelsalam added to Qatar’s golden run by winning the pole vault title ahead of Saudi pair Hussein Al-Hizam and Mohammed Al-Qudaihi.On the women’s side, Sara Ali struck gold in the 100m hurdles after clocking 13.87secs, while teammate Shahd Mohammed claimed bronze. UAE’s AlJazi Farhan won silver.Qatar’s medal tally continued to grow across the track and field programme. Hatem Hamida claimed silver and Mubarak Abdi bronze in the men’s 800m, won by UAE’s Ibrahim Al-Dhafeeri. Hamza Al-Suwaissi secured silver in the men’s shot put behind Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu.Meryem Salek won bronze in the women’s 800m, while Dana Salem added another bronze in the women’s 100m sprint. Salma Hamed also finished third in the women’s long jump.The athletics competitions continue today with finals in several events, including the men’s and women’s 400m, men’s 110m hurdles, javelin throw, long jump and the 4x400m relays. 

 While legendary Mutaz Barshim soared to yet another high jump gold medal at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026, another member of the Barshim family quietly produced one of the most emotional moments of the tournament.Mutaz’s father Essa Barshim captured silver in the men’s 5,000m race walk at the Qatar Sports Club yesterday, in a performance that resonated far beyond the medals table and became a celebration of passion, perseverance and family legacy.Competing in front of an appreciative home crowd, Essa completed the race in 32:27.68mins to finish second behind fellow Qatari Mabrouk Saleh al-Karbi, who claimed gold in 24:21.75. UAE’s Ayoub Saroushi took bronze in 34:13.80.Yet it was not merely the silver medal that captured the imagination of spectators. Essa’s appearance on the podium became one of the defining stories of the Games, with fans applauding the veteran athlete’s determination and enduring love for sport.From the opening laps until the medal ceremony, the crowd rallied behind Essa, whose spirited performance reflected the essence of an athlete driven not by age or circumstance, but by unwavering commitment and pride in representing his country.The Barshim name occupies a special place in Qatari sport. Essa is the father of Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim, one of the greatest high jumpers in history, and also the father of Meshaal Barshim, goalkeeper for Al Sadd and the Qatar national football team.The Games delivered a rare and touching family moment as Mutaz celebrated his high jump gold while his father stood proudly on the podium with silver in the race walk. The sight of father and son winning medals on the same night was widely hailed as one of the most memorable scenes of GCC Games Doha Doha - a powerful symbol of sporting continuity and shared achievement across generations. 

Three-time former world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim announced his withdrawal on the eve of the world championships in Tokyo because of a foot injury.The 34-year-old Qatari, who won world titles in 2017, 2019 and 2022, also claimed Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. He won bronze at last year's Paris Olympics. "I've been battling with a very serious injury since April," Barshim wrote on social media. "I was planning to make Tokyo my last world championships but unfortunately my foot hasn't healed in time. I've given it my all, but we can't force nature and must stay patient to recover."He expressed disappointment over missing the event, stating: "I had hoped to compete and bring joy to the fans in Qatar and around the world. But I believe the best is yet to come, God willing."Barshim, the second highest jumper of all-time with a personal best of 2.43 metres, has competed just once this season. That saw him finish second as he cleared a best of 2.13m at the Western Asian Clubs Challenge on home turf in Doha. "Don't feel sorry for me not jumping," Barshim added. "Feel sorry for high jumping not having me."The Qatar Athletics Federation expressed regret over Barshim’s withdrawal, noting that medical staff advised against his participation to avoid aggravating the injury. "Barshim was present with Team Qatar in Japan and made every effort to overcome the pain and compete in the championship, but the medical decision prioritised his safety so that he can return stronger in the upcoming events. We wish him a speedy recovery," the federation said.Barshim’s absence leaves a notable gap in Qatar’s medal hopes, but the federation remains optimistic ahead of the event in Tokyo that runs from September 13 to 21.Qatar Athletics Federation last announced had a 12-athlete squad for the championships, featuring Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood, Omar Dawood, Bassem Hemeida, Saif Mohammed, Ashraf Hussein, Ammar Ismail, Ibrahim Zakaria, Khaled Hussein, Abdulaziz Youssef and Ahmed Haroun.Samba, who claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Doha 2019, will be a key contender again alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail is also targeting the podium.Saif Mohammed, 23, will make his World Championships debut in the pole vault, while Omar Dawood competes in the 110m hurdles. Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdulaziz, and Ahmed Haroun will run in the 400m, with Ibrahim Zakaria contesting the 800m.

High jump icon Mutaz Barshim will headline Qatar’s participation at the IAAF World Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.Barshim has won almost everything the sport has to offer over the past decade, including three world titles, multiple Diamond League crowns, and five Olympic medals – most memorably the gold he shared with Italian rival Gianmarco Tamberi at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Returning to the Japanese capital four years later, the Qatari high jumper will be aiming to extend his dominance with a fourth world crown.The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) on Monday announced a 12-athlete squad for the championships, featuring Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood, Omar Dawood, Bassem Hemeida, Saif Mohammed, Ashraf Hussein, Ammar Ismail, Ibrahim Zakaria, Khaled Hussein, Abdulaziz Youssef and Ahmed Haroun.Samba, who claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Doha 2019, will be a key contender again alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail is also targeting the podium. The World Championships will gather more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, competing across more than 100 medal events.Barshim, who captured high jump gold in London 2017, Doha 2019, and Eugene 2022, will be aiming for a fourth successive world crown. Samba, a bronze medalist at Doha 2019, will line up in the 400m hurdles alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail are also strong contenders for medals.The federation’s statement noted that Saif Mohammed, 23, will make his World Championships debut in the pole vault, while Omar Dawood competes in the 110m hurdles. Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdulaziz, and Ahmed Haroun will run in the 400m, with Ibrahim Zakaria contesting the 800m.The Tokyo World Championships will bring together more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, competing for more than 100 medals across track and field events.