Doha, May 08 (QNA) - The second edition of the "Gravity Challenge" high jump competition will take place tomorrow, Friday, at the Roman Amphitheatre in the Cultural Village - Katara, featuring an elite lineup of global and Olympic high jump champions. The open-air event will see top athletes vie for top positions and attempt to set new records, as they prepare for key competitions this season, including the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, in addition to various continental championships.

Qatari Olympic and World Champion Mutaz Barshim announced in a press conference that this year's edition of the Gravity Challenge will offer a unique competitive experience, building on the success of its inaugural edition. That first event earned global recognition from World Athletics, which ranked it among the top sporting initiatives, contributing to the federation's goal of expanding the reach of athletics and engaging new audiences around the world.

Barshim emphasized that the championship also serves to create an exclusive platform for high jump stars, blending elite performance with creativity, and held in symbolic locations that reflect Qatar's cultural and sporting identity.

He noted that the event aims to support the next generation of athletes and inspire them to develop their high jump skills. By taking the competition out of stadiums and into culturally significant public spaces, the event showcases the values of competition and skill, while promoting Qatar's landmarks and celebrating athletic talent beyond traditional boundaries.

Barshim expressed his ambition to win first place at this year's event, stating that the 2025 Gravity Challenge will be even more competitive with the addition of a women's division. He described this as a major step forward for the event and its mission to broaden the base of high jump fans and highlight the cultural significance of host locations. The inclusion of women athletes is expected to draw new audiences, beyond traditional track and field enthusiasts.

He also underlined the importance of the current athletic season for his career, indicating that his goal this year is to continue the legacy he began 15 years ago, progressing from youth competitions to winning Olympic and World Championship medals.

The 2025 Gravity Challenge will feature a star-studded field of male high jumpers, including Olympic medalists Shelby McEwen (USA) and Hamish Kerr (New Zealand), alongside Qatar's own Mutaz Barshim.

For the first time, the event will also host a women's competition, with top contenders such as Ukrainian world record holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Australian high jumper Eleanor Patterson, and Germany's Christina Honsel, further reinforcing the international status of the championship.

Athletes will compete for a total prize pool of USD 155,000, with the champion receiving a uniquely designed trophy by renowned artist Ahmed Al Bahrani, symbolizing athletic excellence and embodying Qatar's rich heritage.

Meanwhile, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, Mohammed Issa Al Fadala said the inaugural edition of the Gravity Challenge was a resounding success and expressed confidence in an even more remarkable outcome this season at Katara.

Al Fadala noted that the participation of some of the world's top high jumpers underscores the event's significance and its growing impact in attracting new audiences to the sport.

He added that the second edition promises to be outstanding in every respect, given the caliber and record-breaking achievements of the participating athletes, as well as Barshim's strong motivation to excel in the global high jump scene.

For her part, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the women's high jump world record holder and gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, expressed great enthusiasm about competing in Doha's Gravity Challenge.

Speaking at the press conference, Mahuchikh said she is excited to kick off what she hopes will be an exceptional season, beginning in Qatar, where she feels physically and mentally prepared to reach new milestones. She described the Gravity Challenge as a unique concept and praised the warm welcome she received in Doha, something she has come to expect from a country that loves athletics.

She added that she is currently undergoing specialized physical and technical training, including a new jumping technique that emphasizes distancing from the bar, which she hopes to fine-tune with her coach during the competition. (QNA)