(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Armstrong Vas I The Peninsula
Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim's IAAF World Championships gold winning feat has impacted not only his life and fans in Qatar but all over the world.
Barshim, who jumped over the horizontal bar to win the high jump gold before a packed Khalifa International Stadium this month after coming back from ankle injury, says life has ‘changed' for him and for many others who have been following his progress.
'Life has been different for the last couple of days, I guess. It's like every time I step out people really come up to me and they start telling me their side of the story and how crazy it (gold medal event) was, said Barshim.
'I just got a message from an old friend and it's from Germany. She was working with us in the management and she said her parents, 86 years old, they were jumping (when I won the medal), Barshim said, while talking to reporters during a function organised by Red Bull to honour him.
'She never see them jump like that and now they're fans, now they were there sitting home near the TV and they have all the schedules like for next year and they say from now on that's the only thing they're gonna to do, watch high jump. Yes, a couple new fans.
The ace high jumper a product of the Aspire Academy says he has met many children who recounted their own story of how inspired they have become on seeing him win a gold medal for Qatar.
'I met the kids, who are inspired, it's a good thing, that's just part of the things, you know it's worth. A lot of people really showing their love in different ways, he added.
Barshim said the Aspire Academy athletes too are on a high after watching him excel at the World Championship.
'The trip was to inspire the kids and yeah it's amazing to return to the Aspire Academy.
'It is my second home. There's are some places just attached to you, you can always just come and feel so good,
'So, I always want to go there get give back, just talk to my old teachers old coaches my physios the managers,everybody out there who have always been there for you, despite what happened, the ups and down, just went there and enjoyed the success.
Barshim who cleared 2.37m to win the title in Qatar could not touch Cuban Javier Sotomayor record height of 2.45m and the Qatari athlete had some nice words and respect for the record holder.
'He is a great person I like him, he always keep a good relationship but you know what he did is amazing you know that 2.45m it's not human, I have.always have had a great respect for the man.
On what went in his mind while going in for the medal winning height.
'You don't know what's going I didn't know what's going on until I saw the picture after and then I was like, oh, I was still jumping you can see it so much emotion going on, right I ripped my number which is not allowed the chief referee come to me you will get disqualified something I cannot control, so these kind of things like the reaction that comes after don't know still he did try what can I do, I didn't do it intentionally.
Barshim came back to the same Khalifa International Stadium on his gold night only to find it empty a few hours after his jump.
'The crazy thing is like I didn't leave the stadium until 2:30 I had to do all the interviews with international media and then I had to do the press conference which was live and to go to the doping control so by the time I came out to the stadium it was empty. A few hours ago it was loud and full. I needed some time reflect on what happened a few hours earlier.
And after his success on the play field Barshim is looking for a much needed vacation.
'I want to take vacation, but I am busy attending felicitation functions and other related stuffs for one week now. That's the fun part because I want to celebrate with the people that been there for me, my partner's, my family, my supporters, the people that you know put their life down there for me and now it is just a small thing to give back to them.
'I have no idea when I will have the vacation, where, when I don't know, he added.
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