Hamish Kerr Wins Gold in High Jump

In a dramatic showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, New Zealand's Hamish Kerr and USA's Shelby McEwen faced off in a high jump jump-off after both cleared 2.36 meters but failed at 2.38 meters. Kerr, who had decided months earlier to opt for a jump-off rather than sharing gold, successfully cleared 2.34 meters to win New Zealand's first-ever high jump gold medal. McEwen, despite setting a personal best and claiming silver, expressed no regrets over the decision to compete. This competition marked a departure from the 2021 Tokyo Games, where Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi shared gold in a similar situation. Barshim, who won bronze this year, had predicted that such a shared gold moment would be a one-time event. McEwen's silver is his first Olympic medal and an impressive achievement following his 12th place finish in Tokyo.