World Record: 2.44m Javier Sotomayor, Cuba San Juan, Puerto Rico 29th July 1989
Olympic Record: 2.38m Genadiy Avdeenko, Soviet Union Seoul, South Korea 25th September 1988
Sotomayor, the best jumper of his generation, finally competed in the
Olympics. Despite being only 24 he had missed two Olympic opportu-
nities through boycotts. He made the most of his 1992 Olympic season,
winning 14 of his 17 meetings prior to Barcelona. With 13 others he
made 2.26 to qualify for the final, but those who missed represented a
who’s who of world high jumping: Dalton Grant (GBR), Dietmar
Mögenburg (FRG), Steinar Hoen (NOR), and Igor Paklin (EUN).
Steve Smith (GBR) and Marino Drake (CUB) were the only jumpers
to clear 2.30 in the qualifying, but neither could do so in the final, with
Smith making only 2.24 for 12th place, while Drake tied with World
Champion Charles Austin for eighth at 2.28. Seven cleared 2.31, but
2.34 proved to be the final clearance height for the remaining five
jumpers. The quick but uneven surface was felt to be responsible for
such a relatively low level. Sotomayor was the only man to clear 2.34
first time, while the other four made the height second time, with run-
ner-up Sjöberg becoming the only man to win three consecutive medals
in the event. The other three tied for third place.