Volkswacht Bodensee - New Zealand's Hamish Kerr wins Olympic men's high jump

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New Zealand's Hamish Kerr wins Olympic men's high jump
New Zealand's Hamish Kerr wins Olympic men's high jump / Photo: © AFP

New Zealand's Hamish Kerr wins Olympic men's high jump

New Zealand's Hamish Kerr won gold in the Olympic men's high jump in Paris on Saturday after a dramatic jump-off with American Shelby McEwen.

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Kerr and McEwen both managed bests of 2.36 metres in regular competition, but could not be separated on countback of missed jumps.

They opted for a jump-off, Kerr clearing 2.34m when the American failed after the bar was lowered from 2.38 to 2.36m.

There was a hint of deja vu at the Stade de France as Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim had shared Olympic gold with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi in the Covid-hit Tokyo Games three years ago.

The discussion Kerr and McEwen shared with officials was short and to the point: both athletes wanted to continue, there was to be no shared gold.

When McEwen missed his attempt at 2.34m in the jump-off, world indoor champion Kerr had his chance and took it with aplomb.

Barshim took bronze with a best of 2.34m, but Tamberi had a night to forget, finishing 11th in the 12-strong field with a best jump of 2.22m.

S.Leonhard--VB