Ukrainian high jumper Oleh Doroshchuk has shown remarkable progress this year, steadily raising the bar with each competition. He first set a lifetime best of 2.32m to win the Ukrainian Indoor Championships in Kyiv before soaring 2.34m to claim gold at the European Indoor Championships. With this upward trajectory, all eyes will be on the 23-year-old to see how high he can go as he chases his first global medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25.

Doroshchuk’s career has been marked by consistent success across all age categories, earning medals at the European U18, U20, U23 and senior levels. Now, the World Indoors presents the perfect opportunity to signal his arrival on the global stage.

Although he finished just off the podium in fourth place at the 2024 World Indoors in Glasgow and sixth at the Olympics with a best jump of 2.31m, Doroshchuk enters Nanjing as the world leader – a position that undoubtedly boosts his confidence as he aims to capture his biggest career milestone yet.

However, posing a significant challenge to Doroshchuk’s quest for gold is Hamish Kerr, the defending champion and Olympic gold medallist from New Zealand. Kerr enters WIC Nanjing 25 with a season’s best of 2.30m, a mark matched by two other competitors – Jan Stefela of Czechia and Raymond Richards of Jamaica.

As the Oceanian record-holder (2.36m) and Commonwealth Games champion, Kerr boasts an impressive resume. With 10 national titles to his name, the 27-year-old will be eager to add another world indoor gold to his collection and sharpen his form as he eyes the one global accolade missing from his trophy cabinet: World Championships (outdoor) gold.

Meanwhile, Stefela, who finished fifth at the World Indoors last year, has shown steady improvement this season, taking the silver medal at the European Indoor Championships. He will aim to make a breakthrough on the global stage. 

Korea's Woo Sanghyeok, renowned for his consistency and ability to deliver on the biggest stages, will be a major contender in Nanjing. The 27-year-old has an impressive track record, having claimed gold at the Belgrade 2022 World Indoors and bronze in Glasgow in 2024, and he will be eager to secure a third consecutive medal.

Adding to the excitement is Jonathan Kapitolnik of Israel, one of the rising stars in the men’s high jump. In February the 23-year-old leapt to a lifetime best of 2.31m to win the Israeli Winter Cup Championship, signalling his readiness to compete again on the global stage. In 2021 he won the world U20 title.

The Jamaican duo of Richards and Romaine Beckford are set to elevate the competition at WIC Nanjing 25. Richards, the national indoor champion, enters the championships with a season’s best of 2.30m, while Beckford, the 2023 NCAA outdoor champion, brings a wealth of collegiate experience and will be eager to make his mark on the global stage.

Also aiming to leave a lasting impression are several emerging talents. Dmytro Nikitin of Ukraine, a consistent performer on the European circuit, will be motivated to continue his upward trajectory. Manuel Lando of Italy and USA’s Elijah Kosibah will both seek to break through and establish themselves among the world’s best high jumpers.

Yemi Galadima for World Athletics

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Win probability: 1 Woo Sanghyeok (KOR) 34.04%, 2 Hamish Kerr (NZL) 30.69%, 3 Oleh Doroshchuk (UKR) 15.88%
(This win probability is powered entirely by data and driven by AI technology. More information)

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