Qatar's Mutaz Barshim Pulls Out Of Tokyo Worlds With Foot Injury

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 19:21 IST

Mutaz Barshim withdraws from Tokyo world championships due to injury, while Cordell Tinch returns to challenge Grant Holloway in 110m hurdles after a remarkable comeback.

Three-time former world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim. (X)

Former world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim, who has won titles three times, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming world championships in Tokyo due to a foot injury. The 34-year-old Qatari athlete, who secured world titles in 2017, 2019, and 2022, also won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and a bronze at last year’s Paris Olympics.

“I’ve been battling with a very serious injury since April," Barshim shared on social media. He expressed his disappointment, stating he had intended to make Tokyo his last world championships, but his foot hadn’t healed in time. Despite his efforts, he acknowledged the need to be patient and allow nature to take its course for recovery.

Barshim, known for being the second-highest jumper of all time with a personal best of 2.43 metres, has only competed once this season, achieving second place with a best of 2.13m at the Western Asian Clubs Challenge in Doha. He urged his fans not to feel sorry for him not jumping but instead to sympathise with the high jumping community for not having him.

Meanwhile, Cordell Tinch’s comeback to the track, driven by a joke from his stepfather, could see him challenge three-time 110 metres hurdles world champion Grant Holloway in Tokyo. Tinch, who took a break from the sport in 2019 to sell mobile phones and work various odd jobs, now leads the world in the event this year and is joint fourth fastest of all-time, having clocked 12.87 seconds in Shanghai.

The turning point for Tinch came when he was watching the 2020 NCAA Outdoor Championships with his stepfather, who jokingly said, “You know, I just don’t think you got it no more," which spurred Tinch to prove him wrong. Despite having turned his back on American Football, Tinch slowly found his way back to track, pushed by encouragement from his mother and a desire to rediscover his passion.

Reflecting on his journey, Tinch acknowledged that working odd jobs helped shape his current mentality and that he needed those experiences for self-discovery. He admitted to having doubts initially, but once he returned to the track, he realised where he belonged. Finding happiness in the sport again was significant for him, and he feels grateful for the support that helped him through tough times.

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