The second edition of the “What Gravity Challenge,” the passion project of Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim, is slated to take place this Friday on May 9th. Doors open at the iconic Katara Amphitheater in Doha at 3:00 p.m. local time, and the jumping gets underway at 5:00 p.m.
This year’s edition will see the return of the three medalists from last year’s inaugural event, with Barshim, Sanghyeok Woo, and JuVaughn Harrison all on the start list, according to the event’s official Instagram Account.
Barshim took home gold last year with a jump of 2.31m, a mark he tied with Sanghyeok Woo.
Barshim has already sealed his legacy as one of the greatest high jumpers of all time with an Olympic gold medal and three World Championship titles to his name. He’s also finished on the podium at four straight Olympics dating back to London in 2012.
The What Gravity Challenge has expanded this year to also include a second tour event “Hochsprung Heilbronn High Jump Meet” on August 9 in Heilbronn, Germany.
Who’s Competing at the What Gravity Challenge This Year?
The What Gravity Challenge is expanding this year to include a men’s and women’s section. Here’s a look at the jumpers scheduled to compete, according to the start lists posted on the offical Instagram page on May 6th:
Men’s What Gravity Challenge Field
Mutaz Barshim
- Country: Qatar
- Personal Best: 2.43m
- World Rank: 9
- Honours: Olympic champion, World Champion x3
Donald Thomas
- Country: Bahamas
- Personal Best: 2.37m
- World Rank: 13
- Honours: 2007 World Champion
JuVaughn Harrison
- Country: United States
- Personal Best: 2.36m
- World Rank: 18
- Honours: 2023 World Championship bronze
Sanghyeok Woo
- Country: South Korea
- Personal Best: 2.36m
- World Rank: 4
- Honours: 2022 World Championship silver
Hamish Kerr
- Country: New Zealand
- Personal Best: 2.36m
- World Rank: 1
- Honours: 2024 Olympic Champion
Brandon Starc
- Country: Australia
- Personal Best: 2.36m
- World Rank: 33
- Honours: 2018 Diamond League Final Winner
Shelby McEwen
- Country: United States
- Personal Best: 2.36m
- World Rank: 5
- Honours: 2024 Olympic Silver medalist
Marco Fassinotti
- Country: Italy
- Personal Best: 2.35m
- World Rank: 72
- Honours: x3 National Champion
Ryoichi Akamatsu
- Country: Japan
- Personal Best: 2.31m
- World Rank: 8
- Honours: 2024 Olympics 5th Place
Edgar Rivera
- Country: Mexico
- Personal Best: 2.31m
- World Rank: 26
- Honours: 2017 World Championships 4th place
Jan Štefela
- Country: Czechia
- Personal Best: 2.30m
- World Rank: 10
- Honours: 2021 European U23 champion
Raymond Richards
- Country: Jamaica
- Personal Best: 2.30m
- World Rank: 17
- Honours: 2025 World Indoor Championship Bronze
Women’s What Gravity Challenge Field
Yaroslava Mahuchikh
- Country: Ukraine
- Personal Best: 2.10m
- World Rank: 1
- Honours: World Record Holder, 2025 Olympic Champion, 2023 World Champion
Yuliya Levchenko
- Country: Ukraine
- Personal Best: 2.02m
- World Rank: 39
- Honours: 2017 World Championships Silver
Eleanor Patterson
- Country: Australia
- Personal Best: 2.02m
- World Rank: 3
- Honours: 2022 World Champion, 2024 Olympic Bronze
Nadezhda Dubovitskaya
- Country: Kazakhstan
- Personal Best: 2.00m
- World Rank: 36
- Honours: x3 National Champion
Morgan Lake
- Country: Great Britain
- Personal Best: 1.99m
- World Rank: 13
- Honours: 2023 World Championship 4th Place
Christina Honsel
- Country: Germany
- Personal Best: 1.98m
- World Rank: 7
- Honours: 2024 Olympics 4th place
Maria Żodzik
- Country: Poland
- Personal Best: 1.98m
- World Rank: 19
- Honours: x2 National Champion
Imke Onnen
- Country: Germany
- Personal Best: 1.96m
- World Rank: 10
- Honours: x2 National Champion
Michaela Hrubá
- Country: Czechia
- Personal Best: 1.95m
- World Rank: 33
- Honours: x5 National Champion
Charity Hufnagel
- Country: United States
- Personal Best: 1.94m
- World Rank: 24
- Honours: 2024 National Champion
