‘2.47m is possible’: Upbeat Barshim targets Doha win with eyes on Olympics

Since Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor set the world record of 2.45m in 1993, leading high jumpers have been pursuing the mark over the years without success.

For Qatar’s reigning world champion, Mutaz Barshim – the man tipped to have the best chance of shattering the longstanding record – the uphill task is achievable. “I think 2.47m is possible if you manage to stay healthy,” Barshim said at a Doha Diamond League (DDL) press conference yesterday, when asked if a jump of 2.45m is possible.