In the stands, it grew louder with each of his jumps, and Mutaz Essa Barshim came to a height that evening, which had not yet succeeded this season. The high jumper from Qatar drove the bar further and further up, Barshim flew again. Right here, in his native city of Doha.
And at some point you heard in the stadium only a bawling from estimated 20,000 throats. Certainly one does not know that, because the organizers, as far as official audience numbers are concerned, are kept covered.
But when Barshim had jumped the bar in 2.37 meters and his last competitors had failed a little later, almost every place in the Khalifa Stadium seemed busy, even the head of state was there. Then there was ecstasy on the grandstands, which had not been covered in the run-up to the World Cup with tarpaulins. "That feels better than anything else so far, that's my home," said the 28-year-old at the press conference following his triumph.
The host of this World Championships in Athletics had to wait a long time for such an evening, one that deserved the title "atmospheric". So far it had looked more like this: many empty seats and frustrated athletes. The spectacle was partly reminiscent of the silence of a cemetery, especially when the World Champions were drawn on their lap of honor at the witching hour. As last decathlon champion Niklas Kaul, there it was already shortly after one. With free tickets you tried to counter in the past few days.
Martin Rickett / DPA
Rare picture: Great atmosphere during the World Athletics Championships in Doha
The Emir is the biggest fan
However, the ridicule did not stay out, criticism either, especially for the International Athletics Federation IAAF, who had brought the games here, but also for the host itself. The award is under suspicion of corruption.
But Qatar had just this one ace up its sleeve, a bet on an atmospheric evening. But it was risk.
Although Barshim is world champion of 2017 and silver medalist of the Rio 2016 Summer Games, he has jumped 2.43 meters in his career, two centimeters below the world record. But his preparation for the World Cup was anything but perfect: Due to a break in injury, he had only competed in three competitions this year. That had even worried Emir Tamin bin Hamad Al Thain, after all, he is one of the biggest fans of Qatar's "Posterboy".
Mutaz Essa Barshim is not just any athlete in this country, he really comes from Qatar. Why the emphasis? Although Qatar has a small selection of athletes by now, it consists mainly of immigrants from Mauritania or Sudan. Qatar is not a sports stronghold, even if the country would like that.
Award ceremony breakdown forms the conclusion
Barshim was and is the only native of Qatar with medal prospects; He learned his sport at the Aspire Academy, a modern elite school not to be missed around the World Athletics Championships venue. With millions of investments, they want to train superstars in sports, and Barshim should be their role model.
A local journalist later used the press conference to bring the academy into conversation. "Did you owe this career to Aspire?" Barshim had to grin, and then, of course, there were praising notes in fluent English for the Academy. It sounded like the ambassador of the country was speaking.
Nariman El-Mofty / DPA
Mutaz Essa Barshim did not have the most atmospheric award ceremony in history
But sometimes he is too cocky. The heavy injury in the summer of 2018, he had contracted because he wanted to jump an inch above the world record (2.45 meters). He lost control. Torn ligaments. The break slowed him down so much that no one really knew about Doha: What's up for the 1.89-meter Schlaks, which weighs only 65 kilograms?
Surprisingly much: Barshim got into the competition well and made no mistake for a long time, but at 2.33 meters, he had two. The tremor began. But no medal? The tension rose. But then he flew again. From that moment on, it got louder by the minute. "Then I got out everything I had," Barshim said, and also told of the praise of the Emir, who had already congratulated, "He is very happy, very proud, I exceeded his expectations."
But even this evening should not end without a breakdown. Suddenly Barshim and his Russian pursuers Mikhail Akimenko and Ilya Ivanyuk (both started under a neutral flag) had to go to the award ceremony. Only why now? So far, the medals were awarded on the following day. Afterwards no one knew exactly why this was different this time. Maybe you wanted to use the good mood, where ever so many people were there.
The problem: the spectators had long since disappeared, the stadium was empty, and suddenly Barshim stood on the absurdly high pedestal, which was built in the middle of a grandstand. "Being world champion always feels good, but that was a bit strange," said Barshim, who will now be honored on Saturday. Another appearance for the ambassador.