Shelby McEwen, the 28-year-old American Olympic medalist, has stood by his choice to compete in a jumpoff against New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr rather than sharing the gold medal in the men’s high jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During a post-event press conference, McEwen, who earned a silver medal, commented, “If it was meant to be it would’ve been.” He praised Kerr for initiating the idea of a jumpoff, saying he was fully on board with the decision.
Both athletes successfully cleared 2.36 meters, leading them to a jumpoff for the gold medal. In situations where multiple competitors achieve the same height, the rules mandate moving to a jump off starting at the next height. Both miss the 2.38 meters but attempted again at 2.34 meters after several failed attempts. Finally, Kerr secured his first Olympic gold with a successful jump at this height.
Reflecting on the outcome, McEwen acknowledged, “He got the gold and I got the silver. At the end of the day, we both represent our countries and our families.” He emphasized the desire to have a single champion determined.
McEwen clarified that the decision to jump off was made collaboratively. Despite feeling fatigued, he affirmed participation in the jumpoff, which he seemed to accept amicably. “At some point, I kind of got fatigued. I maybe would have shared it with him, for sure,” he said.
Looking ahead, McEwen is now setting his sights on gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating, “I’m going to take my silver, get back to the drawing board, trust my team, trust my doctors, trust my training and get better.”
Heading into the final day of the Paris Olympics, China leads the United States in gold medals, 39 to 38. Some online discussions have emerged around McEwen’s decision, with opinions split on whether he made the right call. Support for the competitive spirit has been noted, with some suggesting that such ambition is essential in sports, while others criticized a missed opportunity to share the gold.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, who claimed bronze, expressed support for the jumpoff, emphasizing that a competitive mindset is vital in sports. He noted the importance of striving to be the best and outlined the inherent greediness that often drives champions.