Qatari track and field athlete Mutaz Barshim has sparked a social media craze after becoming the second highest jumper of all time last week.
The 23-year-old successfully cleared 2.43 meters (about 8 feet) in the high-jump during the IAAF Diamond League final in Brussels last week, breaking a previous record that he set in March.
Though he failed to beat the world record of 2.45 meters, set by Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993, Barshim’s achievements soon caught the imagination of sports commentators.
Under the hashtag #ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver, Adam Schmenk of USA Track & Field began using photoshopped images to show the scale of Barshim’s athletic feat.
He featured Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Barshim’s jump set against a basketball net and also a football goalpost, to help people understand the height of his jump.
https://twitter.com/TheSchmenk/status/509878758614921217
Since then, the hashtag has been trending across social media, with a range of quirky photoshopped landmarks – including a London phone box, the back of a giraffe and a Lord of the Rings reference.
Here are some of the most popular tweets so far:
https://twitter.com/Diamond_League/status/510425321112621056/
Inspired by @theschmenk, a compilation of #ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver http://t.co/A6wda7vnOZ pic.twitter.com/ZcJa26W6WL
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) September 12, 2014
#ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver http://t.co/TAwMZnuuwP" @Coxy2995
— Thomas 'Cito' Cox (@thethomasjcox) September 11, 2014
@mutazbarshim One more. You could’ve easily destroyed the ring. :p #ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver #LotR pic.twitter.com/Xk962iQVUm
— مشاعل (@MJLaLa) September 12, 2014
A Twitter user himself, Barshim has been encouraging fans to offer up their own digitally-enhanced online offerings.
Be #creative be #funny #be #brilliant #ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver Another one I like with the champ @FloydMayweather pic.twitter.com/5HiUCWxdfW
— معتز برشم ♕Barshim (@mutazbarshim) September 13, 2014
Which one do you like best? Thoughts?
hope to see him break the world record
Out of interest, which country is he actually from?
He’s “actually from” Qatar.
he is qatari
He’s born and raised in Qatar (1991) and since his youth was a student at Aspire Academy. His parents I believe are from Sudan and are long term residents of Qatar. His younger brother competes in high jump too.
will his passport be taken away as in other cases?
There’s a difference between home breed talent and flown in talent
you’re right…..but normally in a country once you have the passport you’re a citizen, so that means that you don’t have to be scared in case passport can be confiscated. Does not matter why the decision came. Now you’re citizen, now you’re not….it is a bit ridiculous anyhow
So he is a Sudanese citizen who is a resident of Qatar, or was he granted citizenship because of his jumping ability?
No he was born Qatari, as I learned. Both his parents are too. They’re are many Yemeni and Sudanese families who were granted citizenships some time ago. Espically those who served many years in the army, police force and key government jobs.
Thanks. I get it now.
Haha great stuff, but I think he is bearing his shoulders. He should reflect his respect when out competing.
Other important questions: Was he traveling with women? Were their heads and/or shoulders also uncovered? Do his parents agree with his wardrobe choices? Is he sponsored by Vodafone?
All joking aside, congrats to this kid. That jump is really an amazing feat.
finally get a chance to use this
Don’t see why. I get offended by men’s shoulders being uncovered. Why does no one consider my hurt feelings?
you should move on after a bad joke… no point in trying to make it happen… quite digging.. pass me the shovel.. now give me your hand.. let me pull you out…. great.. now move on to the next post.. juicy topic, muslim brotherhood…
lol
That was genius! hehehe
Good to see a genuinely home grown talent in Qatar.