Woo Sang-hyuk, the star of the high jump, won the What Gravity Challenge by participating in a large number of the world's top jumpers

May 10, 2025

Woo Sang-hyuk, the star of the high jump, won the What Gravity Challenge by participating in a large number of the world's top jumpers
photo courtesy of Yongin City Hall Athletics Team



Woo Sang-hyuk, the star of the high jump, won the What Gravity Challenge by participating in a large number of the world's top jumpers
photo courtesy of Yongin City Hall Athletics Team
Woo Sang-hyuk (29, Yongin City Hall), the flagship of the Korean high jump, won the 'What Gravity Challenge'.

Woo Sang-hyuk won the 'What Gravity Challenge' held at the Katara Amphitheater in Doha, Qatar, on the 10th (Korea time), exceeding 2m29. Although it is still active, it is a track and field high jump competition hosted by Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar), who is called 'Legend'. Woo Sang-hyuk ranked second in the first competition held last year, surpassing 2m31m, the same as Barthim, but was behind in the success period. However, he won first place in the second competition. Barshim was listed as a contestant for the second time, but did not play and served as a 'Operating Agent'.

An outstanding player came out. Eleven top jumpers, including 2024 Paris Olympics champion Hamish Kerr (New Zealand), second-place Shelby McCuan (USA), 2023 Budapest World Championship runner-up Jubon Harrison (USA), and fifth-place finisher Ryoichi Akamatsu (Japan), competed for the championship.




Woo Sang-hyuk jumped to the upbeat rhythm of the song 'Apartment'(APT.) that Rosé sang with pop star Bruno Mars. Woo Sang-hyuk succeeded in the first period of 2m15, 2m20, 2m23, and 2m26. Woo Sang-hyuk was the only player who never failed until 2m26. Kerr, who was the favorite to win, did not exceed 2m23. Harrison was also blocked by a 2m 23m wall. Woo Sang-hyuk, Akamatsu, and Raymond Richards of Jamaica crossed the 2m26. Woo Sang-hyuk touched the bar in the 2m 291st and 2nd periods. However, it exceeded 2 m 29 in the third period. Woo Sang-hyuk's victory was confirmed as No. 2 Akamatsu and No. 3 Richards failed to overcome both 2m29 in the first and third periods. Woo Sang-hyuk raised the bar to 2m33 and continued his challenge, but failed to achieve his goal.

Woo won the 2 m 31 indoor competition in the Czech Republic, his first competition of the season, on Feb. 9. On the 19th of the same month, he also won the competition with a time of 2m28. The 2025 World Indoor Championships, held in Nanjing, China on March 21, also won with a 2m31 and ranked first in all three indoor international competitions held this year. On April 22, he ranked first in the men's high jump final of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, surpassing 2m30 in the final round of the men's high jump.

Woo Sang-hyuk will return home immediately and prepare for the U.S.-China Asian Athletics Championships, which will open on May 27. After the game, Woo Sang-hyuk said, "2025 will remain a meaningful season for me. Thank you to everyone who cheered until dawn. I will also enjoy playing at the Asian Athletics Championships in Europe and America in May."




Meanwhile, this year's What Gravity Challenge also held a women's game. Yaroslava Mahuchik of Ukraine, the champion of the Paris Olympics, won over 2m02. Eleanor Patterson of Australia came in second with 1m96.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.