Aspire in the World Fellows Book - 2023

/114 9TH ASPIRE ACADEMY GLOBAL SUMMIT Mutaz Barshim: I understand that injuries are a big part of what we’re doing, and I will never know what is the limit if I don’t push myself. I’m well aware of the risk, but none of us is really prepared until you find yourself in that dark place. In 2018, I was feeling in great shape and winning everything. 2017 was an amazing year. I didn’t lose a single competition. I was very excited. I said to my coach this year, I’m going for world records. I want to push myself to the limit. I feel like I’m at the right place physically and mentally. I was in Hungary in June and I jumped 2.40m at this competition. I felt great and I think I’m ready. I’m going to rise the bar to 2.46m, which is the world record. At my first attempt, it felt so close that I almost shocked myself because I didn’t even give it 100%. This story is definitely a key scene of the Hollywoodmovie of your life stories. But a year later, you get the same injury. Howdid Gianmarco help you? I was so focused on my coach, giving me advice. The stadium was quiet, clapping and preparing myself. The first three steps, running the curve toward the takeoff. I remember planting my foot so hard, and it’s the same thing. The only thing I hear was just a clicking. The pain was very strong. I never felt that before; it was almost like I got an electric shock. I didn’t know what it was, but I thought to myself, I definitely broke a bone or did something really bad. I fell down on the high jump mat, looked down at my foot, it was swollen and blue. I see my physio and everyone rushing. They took me inside, my physio looked at me and he said this is not good. You have no ligament left. I broke both of my ligaments, there was absolutely no support. They had to fly me to Germany. I remember coming to the professor’s room; he told me that I need to do surgery now. I said I need to talk to someone. He said no, the more time the worse it will be for you. At one moment, you are the best, you’re on top of the world, and a few moments later, you’re in a wheelchair, you don’t know if you’re ever going compete again. You’re feeling so depressed, you’re so down and you feel like the world is shut down on you. You need someone that being through these kinds of things to make you understand or to feel hope. I have my family that were really close to me. I give so much love to my team because I really have a great team. I remember talking to Gianmarco when I woke up from the surgery, he said, “I know you probably don’t want to talk. I knowwhat you’ve been through. Please talk to me. I’ve been there. I want to be there for you. I want you to feel like you’re not in it alone.” We’re not only athletes, but also this is real life for me. It was something that affected my personal life, and having someone there that really cares about me deeply and trying to get me out of that dark hole, it meant a lot.