Big clearances of 2.40m in Qatar and his successful leap of 2.36m in Eugene, Oregon show that precociously talented Barshim is in career best form. The amount of "air" that is seen between him and the bar during these clearances is truly amazing .
Last year Mutaz Barshim electrified the Bislett audience with a massive leap of 2.38m and broke the stadium record of 2.37 set by Javier Sotomayor back in 1989. This year the World Champion Barshim returns to Bislett with his eyes firmly set on again readjusting that stadium record and a leap beyond 2.40m the first ever on Norwegian soil.
Of course he will not have things his own way at Bislett and can expect serious competition from Russian youngster and World Indoor Champion Danil Lysenko. Also competing in his first Diamond League will be a newcomer who is reviving memories of the great Swedish high jumpers Sjöberg and Holm. The tradition continues with young Fabian Delryd whose recent clearance of 2.33m has rocketed him up the world rankings.
