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Kiwi Kerr soars to add world crown to Olympic title
AP • September 17th, 2025 8:08 am
Hamish Kerr | Photo: AAP
Hamish Kerr has banished his world championship demons with a leap of 2.36 metres to win a dramatic high jump final on Tuesday and earn New Zealand a second gold medal in Tokyo.
The 29-year-old, who failed to qualify for the final at the last two world championships, matched his personal best at the first attempt and tore off across the infield in celebration when Woo Sang-hyeok failed at the same height.
"I am stoked with the gold and stoked with the way I did it. That's something I am going to look back on," said Kerr.
"I had to fight for the gold. It was not an easy final for me. Many times I thought I wouldn't win. But being able to fight and not give up is important."
Woo, who was hoping to give South Korea their first ever outdoor world championship gold, finished second to add another silver medal to the one he won three years ago in Eugene after clearing 2.34m at his third attempt.
That clearance put the world indoor champion in gold medal position but Kerr responded with a clutch jump at the same height and, with the crowd roaring its approval, matched the leap that won him the Olympic title in Paris last year.
"I do not want to stop now," said Woo. "I have already started to prepare for the world championships in Beijing in 2027. I want to fight for another medal there. Maybe silvers are enough for me."
Czech Jan Stefela took bronze on the countback over Ukraine's Oleh Doroshchuk after they both cleared the bar at 2.31m but failed all three attempts at 2.34m.
Kerr's triumph followed the shock 3000m steeplechase victory by Geordie Beamish the previous night, and put New Zealand second in the Tokyo medal table with those two golds, behind USA (six), Kenya and Canada (three apiece).
