Canada’s Derek Drouin wins gold medal in high jump
Derek Drouin emphatically got Canada back on track at the Rio Olympics, laying down an inspiring performance to win the gold medal in the men’s high jump on Tuesday.
Canada was coming off its first day without a medal, but Drouin highlighted Day 11 at the Games with a slick series of jumps, not missing an attempt en route to taking the gold medal at 2.38 metres.
The reigning world champion from Corunna, Ont., won the third gold and 14th overall medal for Canada at these Games.
“It feels pretty sweet,” Drouin said. “There have been some sacrifices but I’ve always prided myself on my mental toughness. My family were in the front row. Mom was in tears and Pop was so proud.”
BREAKING: Derek Drouin is the first #CAN to win an Olympic High Jump gold medal since Duncan McNaughton in 1932 pic.twitter.com/DsslUDjWwg
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Mutaz Barshim of Qatar won silver at 2.36 and Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko claimed bronze at 2.33.
Bondarenko’s risky strategy didn’t pay off. He passed at 2.29 and 2.36 metres and tried to put pressure on Drouin at 2.38.
But Drouin cleared his first attempt at that height and Bondarenko missed his first two. He then took his last attempt at 2.40 and missed, giving Drouin his second Olympic medal. Drouin won bronze at the 2012 London Games.
After taking a single run at 2.40 and missing, in an attempt to break the Olympic record of 2.39, an emotional Drouin help up the Canadian flag, tearing up as he faced his parents and his sisters in the stands.