High Jumper Woo Sang-hyeok, 'First Korean' to Win World Indoor Athletics Championships

Athlete Woo Sang-hyeok. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] 'Smile Jumper' Woo Sang-hyeok (26, Armed Forces Athletic Corps) became the first Korean to win the men's high jump at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

On the 20th (Korean time), Woo Sang-hyeok was the only one among 12 competitors to clear 2.34m in the men's high jump final at the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championships held at Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, securing the championship.

Among the 12 participants, Woo was the only athlete to clear 2.15m and successfully passed 2.20m, 2.24m, and 2.28m on his first attempts. Only Woo Sang-hyeok and Lo?c Gasch (Switzerland) cleared 2.28m without a single failure.

Woo touched the bar during his first and second attempts at 2.31m. However, overcoming the pressure on his third attempt, he cleared 2.31m, and then, gaining momentum, cleared 2.34m on his first attempt.

Lo?c Gasch, Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy), Hamish Kerr (Australia), and Thiago Moura (Brazil), who challenged 2.34m, all failed to clear the height in three attempts, confirming Woo Sang-hyeok's victory. Tamberi, who shared first place at the Tokyo Olympics, was also defeated by Woo and finished third with 2.31m.

After securing the gold medal, Woo challenged 2.37m, higher than his Korean record of 2.36m. He touched the bar on his first and second attempts and gave up on his third attempt.

Meanwhile, this is the first time in 10 years that a Korean athlete has participated in the World Indoor Athletics Championships since Lee Yeon-kyung (women's 60m hurdles) competed at the 2012 Istanbul, Turkey event. The highest ranking by a Korean athlete at the World Indoor Athletics Championships was 5th place by Son Joo-il in the men's 400m at the 1995 Barcelona event.