Korea's leading male high jumper, Woo Sang-hyeok (26, Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps) has topped the world rankings in the 2021-22 season.
According to an update posted on Feb. 7 by the International Association of Athletics Federations, Woo had this season's highest jump of 2.36m and a score of 1,233 in the men's indoor high-jump rankings.
Woo on Feb. 5 competed in the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Hustopece, the Czech Republic, and he beat runner-up JuVaughn Harrison of the U.S., with a jump of 2.36 m.
The Korea Association of Athletics Federations said, "Woo cleanly cleared 2.35 m on his third attempt in the competition that day," adding that his mark of 2.36 m is the best this season in the men's high jump.
His feat was 1 cm better than his mark set in August last year in the Tokyo Summer Olympics, where he set a Korean record with a jump of 2.35 m.
"I'm happy to win the competition and set my second Korean record," Woo said. "I want to show outstanding results at the World Athletics Championships in July."
"My long-term goal is to win a medal two years from now at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics."
