"It would be selfish for me to take more time off my family": Olympic high jump champion Mutaz Barshim on decision to retire after Paris Olympics

Tokyo Olympics high jump champion Mutaz Barshim recently opened up about his decision to retire from the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he collected the gold medal, tied with Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi after both cleared the 2.37m mark but couldn't go beyond the 2.39m.

In an interaction with Africa News, he announced that he would hang up his boots after the Summer Olympics. He also mentioned in the interaction that he wanted to leave a legacy where he could look back and feel he accomplished everything possible.

However, at the 2024 London Diamond League, Mutaz Barshim talked about the reason behind his decision to retire after the Paris Olympics, stating (via FloTrack):

"To be honest, it's just between me and myself. I mean honestly I didn't tell anyone. I just felt it you know. Sometimes, you just feel some things and I feel like I have been here for quite sometime. I have done everything, seen everything, and I feel like it's time."

The three-time world champion mentioned that continuing to compete professionally would mean focusing only on himself and not his family and loved ones, adding:

"At this point, it would be selfish for me to take more time off my family and my loved ones. I want to be there for my family also. You know everyone has been there for me all my career."

The Qatari high jumper also said:

"I have been jumping professionally since 2011, so it's a long time and I am really glad and happy with everything we have accomplished together. But I feel like it's time now to give back. It's time to give myself back to my family."

A look into Mutaz Barshim’s 2024 Olympic season

Mutaz Barshim of Qatar competes in the men's high jump final athletics event during the 2022 Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre on October 04, 2023 in Hangzhou, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Mutaz Barshim began his 2024 season campaign at the 2024 Xiamen Diamond League where he registered a 2.27m jump and came second. He then went on to make a clearance of 2.29m at the Shanghai/ Suzhou Diamond League to finish second in the meet.

In his next two events at What's Gravity Challenger in Doha and Internationales Hochsprungmeeting Heilbronn in Germany, Barshim won, clearing the 2.31 mark. However, in his recent appearance at the London Diamond League before the Paris Olympics, he withdrew from the event.