31st August 2012

GRABARZ CLAIMS DIAMOND LEAGUE CROWN

31 August 2012

Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (coach: Fayyaz Ahmed) last night secured victory in the overall Samsung Diamond League Race for 2012, tallying the most points of any high jumper across the entire  series of world-class meets and in the process netting a $40,000 (approx. £25,000) prize.

Grabarz finished second in Zurich, clearing 2.28m behind Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov, who leapt to victory with 2.31m in wet conditions.

With Zurich marking the final high jump competition in the Samsung Diamond League series this year and double points being up for grabs in the overall Diamond Race, Grabarz had to ensure that he held off the challenge of world champion Jesse Williams, who trailed him by only one point in the Diamond Race standings heading into the meet.

With Williams finishing in fourth on the day, however, Grabarz was a comfortable victor with 17 points across the Diamond League season compared to Williams’ 12 points. Diamond Race points are awarded to the top three finishers in every meet throughout the season and impressively, Grabarz secured a top three finish in every competition that he took part in.

After a spectacular breakthrough year was capped off in Zurich, the Newham & Essex athlete was lost for words when speaking to the BBC.

"I’ve won the Diamond League, it’s crazy. I don’t really believe it quite yet. Three major things have happened this year. European champion, Olympic bronze medallist and now Diamond League winner. I haven’t got any words, I’m just so happy."

In an impressive Samsung Diamond League compaign that included victories in Rome and at last Sunday’s Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix, as well as a British record-tying 2.37m jump in Lausanne, Grabarz was keen to point out that there is still work to do next year.

"This is the start of things to come. It’s been so much fun. There’s room for improvement in every competition I’ve had this year. One bar every competition, and I’ll be smiling again."

Full results from last night’s meet are available at http://www.diamondleague-zurich.com/en/Results/Overview/

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