体坛英语新闻：Bondarenko wins men's high jump gold with Championships record

MOSCOW, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko broke a 20-year-long Championships record to claim the men's high jump title at 2013 IAAF World Championships here on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Bondarenko, who will turn 24 by the end of August, cleared 2.41 meters with his second attempt to clinch the gold, equalling his world leading performance and bettering the former Championships record of 2.40m set by Cuba's Javier Sotomayor in 1993 Stuttgart worlds.

Bondarenko, wearing one red shoe and one yellow, also tried to beat Sotomayor's world record of 2.45, set on July 27 1993, but failed all the three attempts at 2.46m.

The Ukraine has been enjoying a huge progression so far in the 2013 season, improving his personal best by 10 centimeters. The seventh finisher at London Olympics set the world leading in Lausanne as he went over 2.41m, a height not achieved for 19 years. At his last competition in London just over two weeks ago, Bondarenko went well clear over 2.38m before two audacious attempts at 2.47m.

Starting at 2.29, Bondarenko showed great confidence on Thursday and skipped 2.32 and 2.38 before leaping over 2.41 with only his fourth jump in the evening.

"I did not expect to win with such a good result. The audience in the stands really gave me great support with their cheers and applause," said Bondarenko, who revealed he had been bothered by slight belly twinges in recent days. "It does not matter that I did not break the world record, because I have already won the world title."

When asked whether he will continue to charge for a new world record, Bondarenko said: "I do not think so. For me the season has already ended."

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, Asian indoor and outdoor record holder, took the silver with a perfect record at 2.38. After an unsuccessful attempt at 2.41, one centimeter over his personal best of 2.40, Barshim tried to challenge 2.44 but failed the two audacious attempts.

Derek Drouin of Canada, also a bronze medalist at London Games, jumped over 2.38 with his second attempt and settle for the bronze with a new Canadian national record.

Russia's reigning Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov, 27, finished fourth after cleared 2.35.