Reigning Olympic and world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim will compete at the London Diamond League on Sunday 23 July, the one-day spectacular marking the return of world class athletics to the London Stadium.
Barshim is the Qatar national record holder with a best of 2.43m, the second-highest jump of all time. Twice an Olympic silver medallist (2012 and 2016), he shared one of the greatest sporting moments ever when he was crowned joint Olympic champion with his long-time friend and rival Gianmarco Tamberi in Tokyo 2021.
Having won his first world title at the Olympic Stadium in London 2017, Barshim went on to top the podium in front of a home crowd in Doha 2019, before winning an unprecedented third successive global title with victory in Eugene (2022). The 31-year-old said: “To open my Wanda Diamond League season in Doha was special as there is no support quite like the support you get at home, but returning to London, where I won my first World Championships title, is always close to my heart.
“I know I’ve achieved a lot, but I’m still chasing and aiming for more. I have set my own goals and targets for 2023 and the World Championships and the Asian Games are at the top of that list. Competing in London is the perfect preparation for Budapest where I’m aiming to win my fourth global title.”
In addition to his London 2012 and London 2017 medal-winning exploits, Barshim has delivered a series of impressive competition performances in the UK. Highlights include his silver at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham (2018) and clearing 2.40m – one of his all-time top ten jumps – for victory in the 2017 Diamond League meeting at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
The London Diamond League is the tenth meeting of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League series.
