Hashim Kerr Beats Shelby McEwen in Jump-Off For Olympic High Jump Gold

In a winner-take-all jump-off, Hamish Kerr of New Zealand clinched his country’s first gold medal in the event. Kerr and American Shelby McEwen each missed all three attempts at 2.38m. The duo could have chosen to share the gold medal but agreed to a jump-off for sole possession of top prize. 

In the jump-off, both athletes missed their first attempt at 2.38m. The bar was lowered to 2.36m, and both athletes missed again. With the bar lowered to 2.34m, McEwen missed again and Kerr made the heigh to take gold. McEwen claimed the silver medal. Kerr and McEwen also won gold and silver respectively at the 2024 World Indoor Championships earlier this year in Glasgow. Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim took bronze. For Barshim, it was his fourth Olympic medal in the high jump and ninth overall global championship medal in the event.

Entering the competition, the podium seemed wide open. Tokyo 2020 co-gold medalists Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi, were navigating health challenges.

Tamberi was in the emergency room vomiting blood from a kidney colic just hours before the competition. Barshim jumped on an injured calf in the preliminary round.

Tamberi cleared bars at 2.17m and 2.22m but was unsuccessful at 2.27, ending his Olympic title defense.

Six jumpers cleared 2.31m and four cleared 2.34m.

At 2.36m, only Barshim, Italian Stefano Sottile, McEwen, and Kerr were still alive. Only McEwen and Kerr cleared the heigh. Kerr’s clearance was an Oceanian record.

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