Tokyo: High jumper Woo Sang-hyeok achieved his second career silver medal at the world outdoor championships, narrowly missing a historic achievement for South Korean athletics. Woo, who jumped 2.34 meters, finished in second place behind Hamish Kerr of New Zealand. Kerr cleared 2.36 meters to win his first career gold at the World Athletics Championships held at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jan Stefela of the Czech Republic claimed the bronze medal with a jump of 2.31 meters. Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine also achieved a height of 2.31 meters but ended in fourth place due to requiring more attempts than Stefela. Woo, who was the 2022 silver medalist, aimed to become the first South Korean athlete to win an outdoor world title.

Woo, who previously won the world indoor crown in March, sought to join Javier Sotomayor in 1993 as the only male high jumpers to achieve both indoor and outdoor world titles in the same year. Woo had been undefeated in seven international events this season until Kerr, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, surpassed him in Tokyo. Only Woo, Kerr, Stefela, and Doroshchuk managed to jump over 2.31 meters after some contenders were eliminated.

With the bar set at 2.34 meters, all four jumpers missed their first two attempts until Woo successfully cleared it. Kerr matched Woo's performance, while Doroshchuk and Stefela failed on their third attempts and were eliminated. Woo and Kerr were left to compete for the gold medal. Woo failed his first attempt at 2.36 meters, which would have equaled his personal best and the national record, but Kerr cleared the bar to take the lead.

Woo then attempted 2.38 meters but missed his next two jumps, securing the silver medal. He is now the first South Korean athlete to win multiple medals at the world outdoor championships.