The bar is my opponent, says Barshim August 04 2021 11:36 PM By Sports Reporter Mutaz Essa Barshim has been on top of his game for more than just a few years. He has come the closest to breaking the world record of 2.45m, is the only high jumper to successfully defend the world title, and has won athlete of the year honours. And now he has the only medal that was missing from his cabinet — an Olympic gold. On Sunday, he achieved that too, and won hearts and earned plaudits for his sportsmanship when he asked to share the gold with his friend and competitor Gianmarco Tamberi after both were tied at 2.37m.