Mutaz Barshim (right) and his father Essa Barshim share a proud moment with their medals after a memorable night at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026.
Doha, Qatar: A rare family double lit up the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 as the Barshim name featured on two podiums in contrasting but equally memorable fashion.
While Olympic hero Mutaz Barshim won high jump gold, his father Essa Barshim produced a stirring performance to claim silver in the men’s 5,000m race walk at the Qatar Sports Club, finishing in 32:27.68 behind Qatar’s Mabrouk Saleh Al-Karbi, who won gold in 24:21.75.
The UAE’s Ayoub Saroushi took bronze.
Essa’s podium finish drew warm applause from the home crowd, with the veteran athlete earning admiration for his determination and enduring commitment to competition on the international stage.
The moment carried added significance as father and son celebrated medals on the same night, creating one of the most talked-about scenes of the athletics programme.
Barshim shared gold with Oman’s Fatak Bait Jaboob after opting not to continue when officials asked him to proceed, in a repeat of his famous joint victory with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi at the Tokyo Olympics. Both athletes had cleared 2.16m.
It was Barshim’s first event since the Paris Olympics.
The Barshim family, already central to Qatar’s sporting identity, once again reinforced its legacy, with father and son both featuring on the podium in a rare double that highlighted continuity and success across generations.
