The whole field with the exception of Canada’s World Championships bronze medallist Mark Boswell (opened at 2.23m; best of 2.27m for 7th) made their opening attempts at 2.18m this afternoon, and of all the participants Russia’s European champion Yaroslav Rybakov looked the least likely to win after having to take three attempts at 2.23m and a two jumps at 2.27m.
But when it came to the deciding height of 2.30m Rybakov, who was a disappointing ninth at the Paris Worlds, was the only man in the field to clear the bar with his first try. On such variances of form are titles won and lost, and so was it today as with this successful leap the Russian had dealt the killer blow.
Sweden’s Stefan Holm, the double World Indoor champion, who took the World silver in Paris behind South Africa’s Jacques Freitag (4th= 2.27m today) looked the firm favourite for the win earlier this afternoon with smooth clearances at 2.18m, 2.23 and 2.27 but two attempts at 2.30m was his undoing.
The only other competitor over 2.30m was USA’s Jamie Nieto who took the height on his third try, enough to take third spot and break away from a pack of four jumpers who ended up with 2.27 as their best.
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