‘Smile Jumper’ Woo Sang-hyuk made history in South Korean track and field by rising to the top of the podium at the Diamond League Finals.
Woo Sang-hyuk cleared a personal outdoor best of 2.35 meters to win the men’s high jump at the World Athletics Federation Diamond League Finals 2023 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, on Sunday morning (July 17).
He beat out Norbert Kowielski (POL) and Jubon Harrison (USA), who both cleared 2.33 meters, and beamed as he took home the diamond-shaped trophy and the $30,000 (US$40,000) first-place prize.
The Diamond League has a total of 14 tournaments a year. Players are ranked based on ranking points accumulated from 13 events, and the top six qualify for the 14th event’s final, a “king of kings” competition.
Woo Sang-hyuk is the first Korean player to reach the Diamond Finals.
Last year, Woo finished seventh in the rankings (16 points) and did not qualify for the final, but this year he has qualified for the final at four of the six Diamond League high jump competitions.
She finished second in Doha (2.27m) and Rome-Firenze (2.30m) to earn seven points each, and third in Zurich (2.31m) for six points. In Stockholm, he was unable to record a time in the bad weather, but still finished in fourth place with 20 ranking points.
Woo easily cleared 2.15 meters, 2.20 meters, 2.25 meters and 2.29 meters in the first round. He and Harrison were the only ones to clear 2m29 at once.
Woo then cleared 2m33 to take sole possession of first place. Kowielski (first clearance) and Harrison (third clearance) followed closely behind, but he never wavered.
He cleared 2m35, his personal best from last year’s World Championships, with a narrow jump that barely touched the bar in his third attempt, and celebrated with his trademark smile.
With Kwielski and Harrison failing to clear 2m35, Woo became the first Korean athlete to win gold in the Diamond League. 카지노사이트