“YOU have to be crazy, it is scary. If you put the bar at 2.40m and look at it, you’re thinking: “Why am I jumping this?” It’s like a maniac thing, it’s not possible.”

Last July, Mutaz Barshim came agonisingly close to breaking Cuban Javier Sotomayor’s 25-year-old world record of 2.45 metres with his attempt to clear 2.46m at the Gyulai Memorial in Szekesfehervar in Hungary. 

Moments later, with his final attempt he was left writhing in pain after injuring the ankle of his left take-off leg. The next week, he underwent surgery to repair damaged ligaments which kept him out for the remainder of the season.