Here are The Start Lists for Barshim’s “What Gravity Challenge”

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