Doha: Ali Mohamed Al Fadaaq, a Qatari track and field coach specializing in the high jump, confirmed that the return of the Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim to competition enhances the prestige of global athletics and elevates the level of competition in all upcoming events.
According to Qatar News Agency, the coach said that the high jump has become a focal point of interest for athletics federations worldwide due to its immense popularity, which has been fueled by fierce competition among the sport's elite, including Qatar's Mutaz Barshim, who has remained a defining figure in the high jump for more than 15 years.
He added that Barshim remains the premier candidate to break the world record held by Javier Sotomayor for more than three decades, citing Barshim's capabilities, skills, and immense determination to succeed. He noted Barshim's significant success in overcoming injuries and returning to form after a hiatus since 2024, pointing out that Barshim holds the second-highest jump in history at 2.43 meters, just shy of Sotomayor's world record of 2.45 meters.
Al Fadaaq emphasized the importance of patience in reclaiming peak performance, which Barshim is currently demonstrating. This approach has already begun to yield results at the start of the athletics season, with Barshim clearing 2.16 meters at the GCC Games, followed a week later by a 2.23-meter jump at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in China. The coach explained that this represents a correct and healthy progression in performance, as athletes need to advance with steady steps and avoid rushing to prevent injuries. The process requires consistent work in accordance with specialized training methodologies, which Barshim is currently following. Results are expected to manifest in the coming months, with Barshim projected to clear higher marks based on this steady progression.
Al Fadaaq considered the upcoming Doha Diamond League meeting to be one of the most important events on the calendar. Featuring the high jump competition, the event will present a major challenge for the participants, and Barshim is expected to deliver a standout performance and a better mark, in line with his current progression toward reaching peak form this year.
Turning to the performance of the Qatari women's national athletics team, Al Fadaaq discussed the silver and bronze medals won by Alaa Abdelmonim and Salma Ahmed in the high jump at the fourth GCC Games (Doha 2026), which concluded on Friday, describing the achievement as historic for Qatari athletics. He said they have made history as the first two female high-jump medalists in Qatari athletics. He noted that the achievement came after significant effort and oversight from the Qatar Athletics Federation, as well as the athletes' focus during training sessions designed by him as a professional high jump coach. He added that the training was implemented flawlessly, promising a bright future for both athletes in the discipline, given their shared desire for success.
Concluding his remarks to QNA, Al Fadaaq asserted that, as the coach for both Alaa Abdelmonim and Salma Ahmed, he will not hesitate to provide all his expertise and guidance to honor Qatari athletics in both the near and distant future. He praised the Qatar Athletics Federation for its immense support, which yielded a success that exceeded expectations at the GCC Games, with the athletics delegation securing 34 medals of various colors 'an unprecedented achievement that reflects the substantial efforts of administrative and technical officials. Al Fadaaq is notably the first Qatari athlete to win a medal in the high jump, achieving the feat at the World Military Track and Field Championship in Beirut in 2001, in addition to winning multiple medals at various Asian Athletics Championships.