24 August

Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (coach: Fayyaz Ahmed) last night equalled Steve Smith’s 20-year-old British outdoor high jump record, jumping a personal best 2.37m in the 11th leg of the Samsung Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Having previously improved his career best to 2.36m in June, Grabarz cleared 2.37m at the first time of asking on this occasion to tie Smith’s effort from Seoul in 1992, continuing a stellar 2012 for the 24-year-old who won Olympic high jump bronze earlier this month.

Incredibly, Grabarz’s performance was only good enough for third place on the night in what marked the first competiton in which three men cleared 2.37m this century. Qatar’s fellow Olympic bronze medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim cleared 2.39m to take victory, with Russian Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov taking second place over Grabarz on countback.

In light of last night’s result, Grabarz’s next competition this Sunday in Birmingham is a mouth-watering prospect. Jumping on home soil on Sunday at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix, Grabarz will again take on Ukhov and Barshim as well as world champion Jesse Williams  and 2008 Olympic champion Andrey Silnov . The Newham & Essex Beagle is looking forward to returning to his home stadium for a must-see clash of the best jumpers in the world in the UK’s final Samsung Diamond League meet of the year.

“I love competing against these guys on the Diamond League circuit. Having the opportunity to go up against Ukhov again at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix is one that I will relish. I’m looking forward to being part of a world-class field once again; it’ll be like re-living the Olympic final.”

“The Alexander Stadium is like home to me. I train there every day and I live five minutes away. It’s going to be a special day for me to return home as an Olympic medallist and put on a show for my friends and family.” 

Back the team and watch the world’s best athletes in action at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium on this Sunday. Live coverage on BBC2 from 2-5pm.