10 Jul 2018
Doha, 10 July 2018, Aspire Academy graduate and High Jump World Champion Mutaz Barshim of Qatar is to have emergency surgery today, 10 July 2018 in Germany after sustaining an injury during his last competition. Barshim picked up the injury in an attempt at 2.46m which is a mark one centimeter more than the current world record of 2.45m held by legendary Cuban high jumper, Javier Sotomayor at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary on Monday 2nd July 2018. Mutaz went very close to clearing the bar but in the process of his attempt at the world record, he hurt his ankle. The diagnosis revealed that Mutaz had sprained and ruptured some ligaments which brought an end to his 2018 Athletics season and the immediate surgery will see the reigning IAAF Athlete of the year ‘s out of competition a period of 3 to 4 months according to doctors.
The news of Barshim’s injury and emergency surgery was announced by Qatar Athletics Federation, whose President, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari wished Barshim a speedy recovery, “Injuries happen and they are part of sport. Mutaz Barshim is a champion with a strong will and personality as well as determination and we trust that he will come back stronger from this injury. The whole of Qatar wishes him a quick recovery and speedy return to competition.”
World Champion and Aspire graduate, Mutaz Barshim himself speaking ahead of the emergency surgery said, “I am not worried, l got positive assurances from doctors and l am going to fully recover to be 100% ready for 2019 World Championships in Doha.”
Mutaz was leading and undefeated in this year’s Diamond League season after winning the first three meeting of the season. Mutaz opened the 2018 Diamond League season with a world leading jump of 2.40m on his way to victory in Doha in May. The next high jump competition was in Eugene, USA and Mutaz took first place again with a winning jump of 2.36m before clearing the same height at Oslo Diamond League meeting to extend his total points to 24 from the first three meetings with five more meetings to go to the end of the season. Danil Lysenko is second on 14 points and Donald Thomas of Bahamas currently lies third on 13 points. Mutaz missed most recent competition for the high jump athletes on 5th July at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.