By the end of the 1988 season, Patrik Sjoberg had built an enviable
reputation as an international high jumper. He had just won his second
Olympic medal, was the reigning world champion, and was a previous world
record holder. With that record behind him, one needed to be reminded
that he was still only 23 years of age. Sjoberg had another good year
in 1989, finishing third at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest,
and winning the gold medal at the World Cup in Barcelona. In contrast,
the next two years were relatively quiet for Patrik.
He missed the
European Championships in 1990 due to injury, and at the 1991 World
Indoor Championships he finished 13th with a best jump of 2.24m. He
fared only marginally better later that year in the World Championships
in Tokyo, where he finished 7th with a 2.31m clearance. He returned to
form when he won the 1992 European indoor title with a jump of 2.38m on 1
March, and later that year he competed at his third Olympic Games in
Barcelona. In the final at Barcelona, held on 2 August, the best height
achieved was 2.34m, which was accomplished by five different jumpers.
World record holder Javier Sotomayor won the gold medal as he had only
needed one attempt at that height.
Behind him, the other four athletes,
including Sjoberg (see photo above) had each required two
attempts. However, due to his faultless record prior to that height,
Patrik was a clear second, which earned him a silver medal, and made him
the first male high jumper to win medals at three separate Olympics.
Sjoberg continued to compete for a number of years, but he was often
troubled by injury, which prevented him from competing at his fourth
Olympic Games at Atlanta in 1996. (Ron Casey) |
ANNUAL PROGRESS:
1998 2.10 Doha (QAT) 07 MAY 1998
1997 2.24 Florø (NOR) 24 MAY 1997
1996 2.35 Eberstadt (GER) 18 AUG 1996
1995 2.32 Göteborg (SWE) 08 AUG 1995
1993 2.32 Eberstadt (GER) 03 JUL 1993
1992 2.34 Barcelona (ESP) 02 AUG 1992
1991 2.34 Barcelona (ESP) 22 JUN 1991
1990 2.34 Bruxelles (BEL) 10 AUG 1990
1989 2.40 Bruxelles (BEL) 05 AUG 1989
1988 2.37 Nice (FRA) 10 JUL 1988
1987 2.42 Stockholm (SWE) 30 JUN 1987 (personal best) World Record
1986 2.34 Catania (ITA) 13 SEP 1986
1985 2.38 Eberstadt (GER) 16 JUN 1985
1984 2.33 Eberstadt (GER) 10 JUN 1984
1983 2.33 Oslo (NOR) 09 JUL 1983
1982 2.26 Sotkamo (FIN) 27 JUN 1982
1981 2.21 Beijing (CHN) 23 SEP 1981