Aspire Academy is my home, says world high jump champ Mutaz Essa Barshim

Doha, Qatar: Mutaz Essa Barshim underlined his supremacy in high jump and retained his world title with a stunning effort at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Friday.

Jumping in front of a packed crowd, Mutaz responded brilliantly to the challenge presented by authorised neutral athletes Mikhail Akimenko and Ilya Ivanyuk as he sailed over the bar set at 2.37.

Akimenko and Ivanyuk failed to clear that in three attempts leaving Mutaz with the world title.

Mutaz’s gold effort gets even more impressive given the fact that he was not his 100 per cent having returned to the action after an ankle ligament injury only recently.

The 28 year old Aspire Academy graduate spoke about the crowd, Aspire, inspiring young Barshims and a lot more to the media at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday. Excerpts.

On how it felt having a big crowd loving him tonight

I am really happy, it feels amazing, it feels great. I have won a lot of medals, but this one was at home. So, it feels different. Everybody came there supporting me a lot, I just wanted to do it for them. They are the champions tonight, not me.

I wasn’t 100 per cent ready, but with all these people cheering for me like this I just forgot everything. I felt like, OK it doesn’t matter what happens tonight, if I injure myself if it’s my last competition, I am gonna push everything out.”

On inspiring the “young Barhsims” in the Aspire Academy, the same school he graduated from

Aspire Academy is my home. I have a lot of great memories. They gave me the opportunity to be who I am. As soon I settle down I will come to Aspire to talk to the kids, to let them know they can do it. ‘I was one of you guys. We have great facilities, we have great support and I believe you can achieve a lot.

This achievement can inspire a lot of people. I hope I will see many Barshims in the future or even better athletes than me.

On inspiring more athletes, other than high jumpers, with his victory

I don’t think it’s only for the high jumpers. It’s for all athletics. People that came here today, they witnessed everything. Running, throwing. That’s what I love about athletics. There’s so much action happening at the same time. You are not going to be bored sitting there. I love it.

Everyone today got a taste that it’s not the same when you watch it from the tv, you don’t get that extra feeling as when you are in the stadium.

On if he had any doubts on his performance coming from an injury:

I think one year ago I got off he crutches, I took my first step. My injury was very serious, it would have meant a career-ending. Then you start questioning yourself, it’s normal when you are facing a difficult situation.

I have a book coming out I will talk about this experience specifically with all the details.

On what HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told him after the competition:

He was very excited, very happy. I went to see him after the competition and he said ‘Well done. I have no words to say. You did everything, more than I expected’. He’s really happy, he’s proud and I am proud too.

On if he was in shape to jump 2.40 if he needed to:

I respect everyone. Everyone was here to do his best, the best guys in the world, so you get ready for everything. I don’t know, I was so focused for the gold. It is possible, I don’t’ know. If somebody would have jumped that, I would definitely have been ready in my home championships, but at 2.37 I had to stop I didn’t want to risk it.

On if he felt pressure before and during the competition:

Of course, there is pressure, there is always pressure, but I need that pressure to jump. I love to perform in a field where everybody is strong, and a big crowd. I think this is an extra push. Pressure in sports can be positive and can actually help you. I needed that.

On what he was thinking in his third attempt at 2.33:

In a third attempt, you simply say ‘I am just going to do it’. I am not thinking about tactics or technique. I just have to put everything I have now, to survive. That was going through my mind, use the power that I have, because that would be my last job. I don’t have to save energy.

On if he feels like a legend and on if he has already switched his mind on Tokyo 2020:

I am not a legend, sometimes legends are not true.

In sport, you always think of what’s next. I need to relax to have a vacation, I need to be fat, eat everything that I can. There are a lot of things I want to do, take my mind at ease.

The most important thing is to be healthy. I need to go back to my doctor, do a full check-up again, see how my leg is, when can we start, how ready I will be.

Tokyo is a big target, but how can I approach it if I don’t really know yet. I need to speak with my coach, my team and see what the plan for the next season will be. My coach is a master. He has something in his mind.