World Record: Javier Sotomayor, Cuba 2.45m Salamanca, Spain 27th July 1993
Champiopnship Record: Javier Sotomayor, Cuba 2.40m Stuttgart, Germany 22nd August 1993
Hampered by a foot injury, Sotomayor lost for the first time at a major championship since Tokyo in 1991. The Cuban needed three tries at 2.25 but then shortened his run-up and went over 2.32 and 2.35 with no problems. After this height, five men were still in and the leader was Partyka.
The Pole was to end up with a bronze medal, for only Sotomayor and Kemp made it over 2.37. The Bahamian needed two tries to Soto’s three. At 2.39, Sotomayor put on a pair of sunglasses as the sun was shining into the faces of the jumpers. He was very close but knocked down the bar on all three tries. Kemp’s attempts were not as near, but he took the gold on countback.