Paris Olympics 2024: Drama in men's high jump as New Zealand's Hamish Kerr takes gold

Hamish Kerr wins the only athletics gold for his nation at Paris.

New Zealand’s world indoor high jump champion Hamish Kerr added another global gold to his collection by winning a jump-off with a clearance at 2.34m following the failure of his US rival, Shelby McEwen, at that height at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Both men had cleared up to 2.36m with identical records and found 2.38m a height too far before a swift exchange of words established they were not of a mind to repeat what happened in the Tokyo Olympic final when Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim – who took bronze here – agreed to share gold in similar circumstances.

According to McEwen, it was the 27-year-old New Zealander who had suggested they press on with competition on another hot night in the French capital.

“Talking to Hamish Kerr, man, I’ve been around him for a long time now,” said McEwen, who finished 12th in the Tokyo final. “We’re good buddies, good opponents, and good jumpers when we jump together. He said he wanted to face off, and I was all for it.

“We faced off until the last battle and he came out on top, so salute, congratulations to him. I know I will be back, stronger and fit, better than ever. I’m just ready to celebrate this moment.” 

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Hamish Kerr, who followed up his decisive effort with a triumphant, mazy run on to the infield with arms aloft, culminating in a bow to the crowd, commented: “I was just in shock. Both me and Shelby were getting a little bit tired after all the jumps we took. I knew I had a good one in me, and I knew that if I could get it up sooner rather than later, then I could just finish the comp and start recovering. 

“If anything, I’m more fatigued from running on to the field than I am from the actual jumping, but I was so just happy that I’d won.

“I always talked about how amazing the jump-off was last time (in Tokyo). That has such a special place in history for high jumps. For me also to have an exact same scenario this time around, but to choose to do the jump-off, was putting at peace one of those people who wanted to jump-off, so we’re both really happy to add to that history.”

The laid-back New Zealander had appeared the calmer man during the jump-off drama, smiling to himself on several occasions as the process played out.

“The big thing that we’ve been working on personally, and me and my team, is it’s not over until it’s over,” Hamish Kerr added. “In the past, I probably got into the habit of watching those guys a little bit, whereas now I wouldn’t even know what’s going on, I just focus on myself.”

McEwen thus finished in the position he occupied at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, setting consecutive personal bests at 2.34m and 2.36m. As for Kerr, 2.36m equalled his Oceania record.

While Tamberi, whose preparations since winning the European title in Rome two months ago have been undermined by injury and illness, failed to progress beyond 2.22m, his 32-year-old fellow Tokyo Olympic champion, despite suffering from cramp in qualification, earned a bronze to add to his Olympic gold and two silvers as he put together first-time clearances up to and including 2.34m.

After bowing out at 2.36m, Barshim was soon being embraced by the man with whom he had shared the title years earlier. Both had announced that they would proceed to a jump-off this time if circumstances should prove the same – but it was never likely to come to that.

Such have been the twists and turns with Tamberi’s health in the last few weeks that one half expected him to be wheeled on in a hospital bed. Thankfully for him and the sport he was able to arrive on his own two feet, spreading his arms in a huge gesture before running on to the infield.

Naturally drama attended his performance, and there was huge acclaim as he accomplished his opening height of 2.22m at the third attempt. But 2.27m – 10cm less than he had cleared in Rome – proved a height too far for the man who has been receiving intensive treatment for a kidney problem. 

Barshim took bronze on countback ahead of Italy’s Stefano Sottile, for whom 2.34m was a personal best. Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk also set personal bests of 2.31m as they finished respectively fifth and sixth.

“I’m really happy,” said Barshim. “That is very special. It was my dream to get to the Olympics. Standing here, the most decorated high jumper in Olympic history, it’s a blessing. It’s been a journey. Now I feel like I’ve been run (over) by a truck. But it’s OK, I’m getting used to that.” 

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