BIRMINGHAM, March 3, 2018 - If you type Danil Lysenko’s name into a search engine, a flurry of articles will come up, detailing his success in the high jump at the World Indoor Championships. The Russian, competing as an Authorised Neutral Athlete, outclassed his major opponent Mussa Essa Bashim of Qatar in a thrilling battle on the opening night at Birmingham Arena to win gold.
The next hits won’t be about his recent success but rather – a large scar on his face, which runs across his right cheek, and has become something of a symbol.
“I was nine years old. I was young and probably stupid,” Lysenko explained. “Some friends and I set fire to a bunch of leaves. And as if that wasn’t enough, they threw some kind of rag into the fire, or a jacket that was lying there. And as it was autumn, the leaves were dry, everything began to flare up. They were frightened and started trying to put it out. I took the rag and began to beat it against the ground, to extinguish the fire. But it was made out of the kind of material that when melted, becomes like plastic. And during the next swing, it stuck to my face... My parents, after, were in shock,” he told Russian outlet Sport Express.
His discipline is the high jump, and despite trying a number of individual sports, athletics was always the one he stuck with.
"I tried karate, archery and many other things as a child. But all this - parallel with athletics. I was quite good with the bow and arrow, but I decided that it was better to concentrate on the high jump.” His own height of 1.92 m gives him the spring needed for the discipline.
"Some tried to convince me that my sport will not lead me anywhere, that I had not chosen well. But many others on the contrary supported and encouraged."
Lysenko also revealed that the scar story wasn’t a one-off.
“I was a little hooligan. My friends and I always sat at the last desk, we were constantly being scolded. None of us listened, we were always off in places where we shouldn’t be.”
After winning gold in Birmingham with a confident 2.36m jump, Lysenko has set his sights on breaking the world record.
"I will go for it! There is no man who was stronger than Javier Sotomavor, and his 2.45m mark, although Bashim got very close. He has made it to 2.40 more than once, and has even done 2.42, with so much space left! That was surely 2.45m! It's amazing that he has not beaten that record yet, but I will go for it!"
It was a reverse of roles from the IAAF World Championships in London, as Danil Lysenko got to revenge on Mutaz Essa Barshim in a scintillating battle on the opening night of the championships. He needed all three attempts at 2.36m after enjoying first-time clearances at 2.20m, 2.25m, 2.29m and 2.33m, before sailing over on his final chance to deny Barshim the opportunity of a jump-off contest for gold.
Lysenko could hardly believe that he had beaten the Qatari to the World Indoor title:
"My emotions are so strong I cannot even describe it. This is unbelievable, such a good result for me. Honestly, I did not expect to win this event and I did not think of it at all. I just tried to do my best until the end of the competition.
"I wasn't surprised Danil put in that jump. It was surprised that it took him until the third but it's good we can have that kind of competition to push us to jump higher," said Bashim
The 20-year-old, competeing as an Authorised Neutral Athlete, with the Russian Athletics federation still suspended by the IAAF, extended his 2018 win streak to nine by clearing 2.36m to the Olympic silver medalist’s 2.33m best mark.
“This is the most important result of my career,” Lysenko said, who in addition to World Championships silver last year won the World Youth Olympics title in 2013. “In London last year it was tough. But here, it was really a pleasure to jump with these guys.”
Lysenko's victory in Birmingham marked his first major international title in an event he begun five years ago. Over the years he has registered lifetime bests on three occasions this winter campaign with 2.35m, 2.36m and 2.37m.
In third was Mateusz Przybylko of Germany, while Britain’s Robbie Grabarz finished equal ninth after clearing 2.20m on his third attempt and then failing at 2.25m
"I liked it here in Birmingham very much and the crowd was very supportive. I have not jumped very often this season but all my performances were good. I am happy for this and looking forward to the summer."
"Now, I am heading home and I will get ready for summer with my team in Russia. Here, I will celebrate with my coach and of course, at home with my family," Danil happily said
The 20 year old now shifts focus to the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
