PARIS: New Zealand's Hamish Kerr won gold in the men's Olympic high jump on Saturday by beating American Shelby McEwen in a jump-off in contrast to the last Games when the gold was shared.
His best effort in "normal time" was 2.36 metres but he secured his country's first medal in the event by clearing 2.34 as both men flagged after a long and gruelling competition.
Defending champion Mutaz Barshim of Qatar - who famously shared the gold with Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi in Tokyo - got the bronze with a season's best 2.34.
Kerr and McEwen cleared 2.36 at the first attempt but both had three failures at 2.38.
In the jump-off, they both failed with their single attempts at 2.38, then 2.36, before Kerr cleared 2.34.
"I was just in shock. Both me and Shelby were getting a little bit tired after all the jumps we took," Kerr said.
"I knew I had a good one in me, and I knew that if I could get it up sooner rather than later, then I could just finish the competition and start recovering."
Kerr said the choice to do the jump-off this time was in part to satisfy those who had wanted Barshim and Tamberi to fight to the bitter end in Tokyo.
"We're both really happy to add to that history," he said.
After his win, Kerr ran into the middle of the field and flopped onto the grass in joy and relief. It was an impressive result for McEwen too, a personal best and a huge improvement after finishing 12th in Tokyo.
"It was by far the best high jump competition I've been in," McEwen said. "I came out and knew my chances were very high of getting on the podium, I came up short of the gold but I'm still thankful for what I got."
McEwen said he and Kerr had decided on the jump-off together, adding that the $50,000 prize money for Olympic gold medallists in athletics, newly introduced for Paris by World Athletics, was also a motivating factor.
"I got a family to feed, so of course it was, but hey, we're going to get back to the drawing board and get better," he said, laughing.
The 33-year-old Barshim, who has struggled with injury all season, did a celebratory backflip off the mat after his last jump, with the bronze his fourth medal in as many Olympic appearances. He has said this Games would be his last.
Tamberi, who was suffering from kidney colic, fell out of contention early, exiting distraught after failing to clear 2.27. - Reuters