With just a month and a half left for the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics Games, Qatar’s iconic high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim has announced it will be his last appearance at the quadrennial event.

“Between the joy of achieving a dream and the sadness of its end, the Paris 2024 Olympics will be my last Olympic participation,” Mutaz, who clinched gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with Italian jumper Giammarco Tamberi, wrote on his personal Instagram account.

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A post shared by ♕ Mutaz Barshim ♕ (@mutaz.barshim)

Reflecting on his journey with pride and gratitude, he said he relished the opportunity of representing Qatar at three consecutive Olympics.

He began his Olympic journey with the 2012 London Games, where he won a bronze (later upgraded to silver), before taking silver at 2016 Rio and gold in Tokyo.

“I’ve enjoyed my Olympic journey through all its highs and lows, challenges and difficulties, from which I’ve gained vast experience and learned countless lessons. I hope to pass on these experiences to future generations,” he said, in the heartfelt note.

Mutaz is also expected to be the country’s flag bearer at his final Olympic Games.

“Now, with less than a month to go until the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, my last stop as an Olympic athlete, I’m honored and proud to be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony, God willing,” Barshim said.

Beyond the Olympics, Barshim has enjoyed a great career, including winning three consecutive gold medals at back-to-back World Athletics Championships — London 2017, Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022 — becoming the first high jumper in history to achieve the feat.

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