Third Career Triumph in the Diamond League
'Smile Jumper' Woo Sang-hyeok reached the top of the Rome Diamond League.
On the 31st (Korean time), Woo Sang-hyeok won the men's high jump event at the 2024 World Athletics Diamond League Rome meet held at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, by clearing 2m30. Romain Beckford (Jamaica) also cleared 2m30, but Woo Sang-hyeok took first place due to fewer failed attempts.
This is Woo Sang-hyeok's third victory in an individual Diamond League meet, following his wins in Doha in May 2022 and Eugene (Final) in September 2023. Woo earned $10,000 (approximately 13.4 million KRW) in prize money and 8 Diamond League ranking points, bringing his total to 19 points and securing third place in the men's high jump rankings, guaranteeing his spot in the Final.
Woo Sang-hyeok, the 2023 Diamond League Final champion, will challenge for a second consecutive title at the 2024 Final held on September 14 in Brussels, Belgium (local time). The 2024 Diamond League ranks athletes based on points accumulated over 14 meets, with the ultimate winner decided at the 15th Brussels Final, which serves as the 'Championship.' There have been six meets including men's high jump up to the Rome meet. Athletes placing 1st to 8th in each meet receive ranking points from 8 to 1. The top six athletes in men's high jump ranking points qualify for the Final.
Woo Sang-hyeok has competed in three Diamond League meets this year. On July 12 at the Monaco meet, he cleared 2m28 and placed 3rd (6 points). On August 26 in Silesia, he cleared 2m29 and placed 4th (5 points). At Rome, he won by clearing 2m30 and earned 8 points. Woo ranks third in ranking points behind Hamish Kerr (30 points, New Zealand) and Shelby McEwen (19 points, USA). Although McEwen and Woo have the same points, McEwen ranks second because he achieved a higher placement in an individual Diamond League meet.
McEwen placed 1st, 2nd, and 5th in individual meets this year, while Woo placed 1st, 3rd, and 4th. Since McEwen secured a 2nd place finish once, he leads Woo in the final ranking. Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy), Oleksandr Doroshchuk (Ukraine), and Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) each have 14 points, placing 4th to 6th and earning spots in the Diamond League Final.
At the Rome Diamond League, Woo Sang-hyeok cleared 2m15, 2m20, 2m24, and 2m27 all on his first attempts. He succeeded at 2m30 on his third attempt. Beckford cleared 2m27 on his third attempt and also cleared 2m30 on his third attempt, then raised the bar to 2m33 and attempted three times but failed. After requesting 2m35, Woo, watching Beckford's attempts, ended the competition without attempting 2m35 to avoid injury once his victory was confirmed. Tamberi and Doroshchuk tied for third place with 2m27.
In 2023, Woo Sang-hyeok overcame the disappointment of finishing 6th (2m29) at the Budapest World Championships in August by winning the Diamond League Final (2m35) in September.
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