High jumper Woo Sang-hyeok finishes 2nd in Qatar event, Paris medal hope brightens

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok has grabbed a silver medal at an invitational event featuring the world's finest leapers, as his hope for a medal at the Paris Olympics brightened further.

Woo cleared 2.31 meters at the inaugural What Gravity Challenge, hosted by the Qatari star Mutaz Essa Barshim at Katara Amphitheatre in Doha. Barshim, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, also cleared 2.31m, but claimed the gold medal because he did so in his first attempt, while Woo needed three tries.

Woo, the world indoor champion and the outdoor silver medalist in 2022, will try to become the first South Korean high jumper to win an Olympic medal in Paris this summer. Woo finished in fourth place in Tokyo three years ago.

A World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event, What Gravity Challenge had a dozen of the world's top high jumpers, with Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who shared the 2021 Olympic gold with Barshim, being the only notable absence.

Alongside Woo and Barshim, Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, this year's world indoor champion, and JuVaughn Harrison of the United States, the 2023 world outdoor silver medalist, also took the field in Doha.

Kerr's day ended at 2.25m, and that left Woo, Barshim and Harrison as they went for 2.31m.

Barshim cleared the bar in his first attempt. Harrison fell out of contention after missing in all three tries, and Woo secured at least second place after jumping 2.31m in his third and final try.

Both Woo and Barshim were unsuccessful in their three attempts at 2.33m.

Woo, who won a world indoor bronze in March this year, skipped a couple of Diamond League meets in April to focus on strengthening and conditioning. Trying to peak in time for the Olympic final on Aug. 10, Woo will next compete at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo on May 19 as the defending champion.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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